Bishan Singh Bedi: Sardar of Spin

Bishan Singh Bedi: Sardar of Spin celebrates his 71st birthday

Bishan Singh Bedi celebrates his 70th birthday on Sunday (September 25). He was born on 25th Sept 1946.He was a slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler and a right-hand batsman. Bedi who has led India in 22 Tests, was not invited by BCCI in the felicitation ceremony on the occasion of 500th test in Kanpur.The only Indian bowler with over 1,500 First-Class wickets, Bedi, with his picturesque action and perfect loop, was the epitome of classical left-arm spin. One of the most outspoken cricketers in India’s history, Bedi was arguably the most talented out of India’s famed spin quartet of the 1960s and 1970s.

Bishan Singh Bedi: Sardar of Spin celebrates his 71st birthday

With 266 wickets, Bedi is the third-most successful Indian spinner in Test history behind Anil Kumble (619) and Harbhajan Singh (417 and counting). His bowling average of 28.71 is the second-best among all Indian spinners with at least 100 wickets. 

Bishan Singh Bedi: Sardar of Spin celebrates his 71st birthday

Of all Indian cricketers, past and present, Bedi will certainly be thought of as one of the most frank and outspoken of the lot. If Bedi felt something was wrong, you could be sure that he would voice his opinion without a thought.

Bishan Singh Bedi: Sardar of Spin celebrates his 71st birthday

Virender Sehwag wished the orthodox spinner on micro-blogging site Twitter. He said, “Hpy Bdy to a man who did not bowl,but did poetry instead. A man who cheated batsmen with a cherry in hand”

Bishan Singh Bedi: Sardar of Spin celebrates his 71st birthday

Bedi was the only man who was a part of India’s first overseas Test victories against New Zealand, West Indies, England, and Australia. Though he did not play a starring role in any of the victories, on each occasion it was one of India’s other three tweakers who ran through the side.