Bishan Singh Bedi was a former India captain and one of the country's finest left-arm spinners. Bishan Singh Bedi was born on 25 September 1946 in Amritsar, Punjab, and died on 23 October 2023 in New Delhi after a long illness. He played 67 Test matches for India between 1966 and 1979 and took 266 Test wickets.
Bedi was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler known for his smooth, classical action, flight and loop. He batted right-handed in the lower order. He was part of India's famous spin quartet of the 1960s and 1970s, alongside Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Srinivas Venkataraghavan.
Bishan Singh Bedi international career
Bedi made his Test debut on 31 December 1966 against West Indies in Calcutta. His last Test was against England at The Oval in August 1979. In 67 Tests he took 266 wickets at an average of 28.71, with 14 five-wicket hauls and best figures of 7 for 98. He also played 10 One Day Internationals between 1974 and 1979 and took 7 wickets.
At the 1975 World Cup he bowled 12 overs against East Africa at Headingley and conceded only 6 runs, with 8 maidens and 1 wicket. These are still among the most economical figures in World Cup history.
Captaincy
Bedi captained India in 22 Test matches in the 1970s before Sunil Gavaskar took over in 1979. Under him, India won its first Test against West Indies in the Caribbean at Port of Spain in 1976 with a record fourth-innings chase and beat New Zealand 2-0 at home. In 1978 at Sahiwal in Pakistan he called his batsmen off the field in an ODI in protest at short-pitched bowling, and India conceded the match.
Domestic and county cricket
In Indian domestic cricket Bedi played for Northern Punjab and then for Delhi, whom he led to Ranji Trophy titles. He also played county cricket in England for Northamptonshire from 1972 to 1977. In all first-class cricket he took 1,560 wickets in 370 matches, the most by an Indian bowler.
After playing
After retiring, Bedi worked as a coach and mentor to young spinners. He was India's cricket manager in 1990-91 and remained an outspoken voice on how the game was run in India.
Awards
Bedi received the Padma Shri in 1970. In 2004 he received the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.
Family
Bedi's first wife was Glenith Miles from Australia. They had a son, Gavasinder, and a daughter, Gillinder. With his second wife, Anju, he had a daughter, Neha, and a son, Angad Bedi, who is a film actor married to actress Neha Dhupia.
Bishan Singh Bedi personal details
Bishan Singh Bedi Date of Birth – 25 September 1946
Bishan Singh Bedi Place of Birth – Amritsar, Punjab
Bishan Singh Bedi Date of Death – 23 October 2023, New Delhi
Bishan Singh Bedi Playing Role – Bowler
Bishan Singh Bedi Batting Style – Right-hand bat
Bishan Singh Bedi Bowling Style – Slow left-arm orthodox
Bishan Singh Bedi Teams Represented – India, Northern Punjab, Delhi, Northamptonshire
Bishan Singh Bedi Formats Played – Test and ODI
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bishan Singh Bedi?
Bishan Singh Bedi was a former India captain and left-arm spinner who took 266 wickets in 67 Test matches.
When was Bishan Singh Bedi born?
Bishan Singh Bedi was born on 25 September 1946 in Amritsar, Punjab.
When did Bishan Singh Bedi die?
Bishan Singh Bedi died on 23 October 2023 in New Delhi after a long illness.
How many Test wickets did Bishan Singh Bedi take?
He took 266 wickets in 67 Tests at an average of 28.71, with 14 five-wicket hauls.
How many first-class wickets did Bishan Singh Bedi take?
He took 1,560 first-class wickets in 370 matches, the most by an Indian bowler.
How many Tests did Bishan Singh Bedi captain India in?
Bedi captained India in 22 Test matches before Sunil Gavaskar took over in 1979.
Who was Bishan Singh Bedi's first wife?
His first wife was Glenith Miles from Australia. They had a son, Gavasinder, and a daughter, Gillinder.
Is Angad Bedi the son of Bishan Singh Bedi?
Yes. Actor Angad Bedi is the son of Bishan Singh Bedi and his second wife, Anju. Angad is married to actress Neha Dhupia.
Which teams did Bishan Singh Bedi play for?
He played for India, Northern Punjab, Delhi and the English county Northamptonshire, for whom he played from 1972 to 1977.
What awards did Bishan Singh Bedi receive?
He received the Padma Shri in 1970 and the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
