Bishan Singh Bedi dies at 77: 5 Lesser known facts about spin maestro

The former India captain and renowned left-arm spinner, Bishan Singh Bedi, passed away at the age of 77 after an extended period of illness. Hailing from Amritsar, Bedi was a legendary figure in domestic cricket, representing Delhi and amassing a remarkable 1,560 wickets in first-class cricket, surpassing all other Indian cricketers in the sport's history.

On the international stage, Bedi made his mark by playing 67 Tests for India from 1967 to 1979, securing an impressive 266 wickets. In the limited-overs format, he participated in 10 ODIs, claiming 7 wickets during his white-ball career.

Let us look at five facts which are not known about the legendary Indian spinner:

1.     Bedi once held the record for delivering the most economical figures in a 60-over World Cup match. He conceded only 8 runs and took 1 wicket in 12 overs, maintaining an astonishing economy rate of 0.50 during the 1975 World Cup contest against East Africa.

2.     On one occasion, he made the unconventional choice to forfeit an ODI game between India and Pakistan due to the excessive use of bouncers by the opposing fast bowlers. This decision was taken when India needed just 23 runs to win from 14 deliveries, with 8 wickets still in hand.

3.     In the context of maiden overs in Test matches, he holds the second position just behind former West Indies cricketer Lance Gibbs, with an average of 16.35 maiden overs per Test. Lance Gibbs had a slightly higher average of 16.62 maiden overs per Test.

One of Bedi's standout performances was when he achieved his best match figures of 10/194 against Australia at Perth during the 1978/79 season. It's worth noting that even today, the pitch in Perth is renowned for its preference for pace-friendly conditions.

4.     Bishan Singh Bedi also had a brief stint as the coach of the Indian team in 1990. Notably, he was the first person to be appointed as the team's full-time coach.

5.     Bedi once raised concerns about the bowling action of Sri Lanka's legendary spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan, suggesting that even if Muralitharan were to achieve 1000 Test wickets, he would view them as mere run-outs.

 Bedi took 1560 first-class wickets

The former India skipper hailed from Punjab, was known for his exceptional skills as a left-arm spinner. He possessed the unique ability to deliver subtle, deceptive variations in flight, spin, loop, and pace while maintaining a consistent bowling action. He was a courageous bowler who encouraged batsmen to take risks with lofted shots by providing ample flight to the ball.

Throughout his career, Bedi proved to be a reliable wicket-taker. His successful English county stint with Northamptonshire played a crucial role in his legacy, where he amassed an impressive 1560 first-class wickets, a record among Indian bowlers. His subtle yet deadly bowling style set him apart in the world of cricket.