President Droupadi Murmu expressed her condolences on Monday over the passing of the renowned spinner, Bishan Singh Bedi, who was born in Amritsar. She remarked that the former Indian cricket team captain was one of the select few who elevated the craft of spin bowling into an art form. She posted on X (Formerly Twitter), saying, “The nation has lost one of its most esteemed sporting icons in the demise of Bishan Singh Bedi. He was among the rare individuals who transformed spin bowling into art and played a pivotal role in the growth of cricket and cricketers. The cricketing community held him in high regard.”
President Murmu also extended her sympathies to Bedi’s family and the extensive community of cricket enthusiasts, saying, “I offer my condolences to his family members, the extensive community of cricket aficionados, and his admirers.”
Bishan Singh Bedi, the former captain of the Indian cricket team and a legendary spinner, passed away at the age of 77 today following an extended illness. Hailing from Amritsar, he had a distinguished career in domestic cricket, concluding with a record 1,560 wickets in first-class cricket, a tally greater than any other Indian cricketer.
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur confirmed the sad news, saying, “We have received the unfortunate news of the passing of former Indian captain and spinner Bishan Singh Bedi. It’s a moment of great sorrow. His contribution to India is immeasurable. He initiated numerous cricket camps in Himachal. Myself and the entire cricketing community stand in solidarity with his family.”
Bedi featured in 67 Test matches for India from 1967 to 1979, securing 266 wickets. He also excelled in 10 One-Day Internationals, taking seven wickets. Bedi was a pivotal part of the famous Indian spin quartet, which included EAS Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar, and S Venkataraghavan. The legendary spinner also served as the captain in 22 Test matches for the national side.
Furthermore, Bedi represented Northamptonshire in English county cricket for numerous years and was honored with the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 1970.
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