Cricketing greats gather for Bishan Bedi's farewell in New Delhi

Cricket luminaries such as Kapil Dev and Virender Sehwag came together to bid their last farewell to the legendary Indian spinner, Bishan Bedi, who, at the age of 77, succumbed to a prolonged illness.

On Tuesday in New Delhi, the cricketing community, including luminaries like Kapil Dev and Virender Sehwag, gathered to bid their last farewell to the legendary Indian spinner, Bishan Bedi, who passed away on Monday at the age of 77 after battling a prolonged illness. The Indian cricketing greats, including the World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, Madan Lal, Sehwag, and Kirti Azad, were present to pay their heartfelt tributes to the departed legend. The gathering also included Ashish Nehra, Ajay Jadeja, a current member of the Afghanistan support staff, and Murali Kartik, who honed his spin skills under the tutelage of the "Sardar of Spin."

The Lodhi Crematorium saw the presence of several first-class cricketers and admirers, all attesting to Bishan Bedi's excellence as a cricketer and as a person. Bedi, born in Amritsar in 1946, boasted a remarkable Test career, featuring 67 matches where he claimed 266 wickets, including 14 five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.

Bishan Bedi was an integral part of India's golden quartet of spinners, which also included Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chadrasekhar, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, collectively shaping India's bowling prowess from 1966 to 1978.

Notably, Bedi assumed the role of the Indian cricket team's manager during the 1990 tours of New Zealand and England. He also served as a national selector and mentor to promising spin talents such as Maninder Singh, Sunil Joshi, and Murali Kartik, who greatly valued his technical insights.

Bedi's captaincy was another feather in his cap, leading the Indian team for nearly four years in Test cricket from 1975 to 1979, following the retirement of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. His contributions to the sport and his enduring influence on the next generation of cricketers remain cherished and celebrated.