Bishan Singh Bedi, well-known as the cricket giant of the Indian cricket team, took his last breath on Monday, 23rd Oct 2023. After suffering a heart attack and brain stroke two years back, Bedi had recently undergone knee surgery. But his prolonged illness succumbed his life to death, and we have lost a cricketing giant, a voice of wisdom, and the game’s well-wisher.
Bedi Saab is popularly known for his habit of making early morning calls to his known acquaintances, and it would mostly be about something that had kept him awake all night. He is also a person of high standards, as no one can easily fool him or impress him. In the cricket field, he is famous as the left-arm spinner and also believed that cricket was a sacred game that should definitely be governed by the principles of fair play and meritocracy.
During his period of suffering, he was always accompanied by his wife, Anju, who took selfless care of him. Still, destiny has something else for them as Bedi Saab leaves his wife, son Angad, and daughter Neha behind and progresses towards his heavenly abode.
For the last two years, wife Anju had been a pillar of strength, staying by Bedi’s side during his phase of recovery and rehabilitation. He showed immense courage and determination while fighting his battle bravely. He also used to tell his boys, “The game is never over until the last ball is bowled.” Encouraging confidence and self-esteem among the players is also what Bedi Saab is known for, and therefore, he will be remembered forever.
Bedi Saab wanted to stay in peace and calm, therefore, he set up a farmhouse away from the crowd of the capital city known as “Cricket Abode.” Before being hospitalized, he needed the support of someone to walk, but when his wife gave him a cricket ball, a soulful smile appeared on his face, which is purely beautiful and innocent. Sitting in his garden, he would always toss the ball with a vigorous spin, and it would whirl in the silent evening air.
His cricket career is remembered by everybody, even today, as he used to give impending danger warnings to the opponent team as the flight or the subtle spin of Bedi Saab’s ball was tough to read and judge.
In 1970-71, Bedi was unbeatable in India’s first Test away wins in England and West Indies. He, along with Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, took 853 wickets in all, which is remarkable and a milestone achieved in the history of cricket.
That was Bedi for everyone. He was suspicious about T20 cricket and sceptical about franchise influence but always remained positive about the health of India and Indian cricket.