Bishan Singh Bedi

Lore & Background

Bedi was born on 25 September 1946 in Amritsar in then British India. He first played for Northern Punjab when only fifteen, having taken up cricket only two years previously. He moved to Delhi in 1968–69 and in the 1974–75 season of the Ranji Trophy, he took a record 64 wickets. He also represented Northamptonshire in English county cricket for many years.

He finished his career with 1560 wickets in first-class cricket — more than any other Indian cricketer. His bowling has been described as graceful, even beautiful, and full of guile and artistry. He was an expert in flighting the ball, and was capable of making it hold back or hurry forward and added subtle variations of spin. His action was so relaxed and coordinated that he was able to bowl all day with rhythm and control.

Bedi was appointed captain of India in 1976, succeeding Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. His first Test victory as captain was against the West Indies at Port-of-Spain in the 3rd Test of the 1976 series. He was replaced as captain by Sunil Gavaskar in 1979. Bedi died in New Delhi on 23 October 2023, at the age of 77.

Reader's Guide

Bedi was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. His best Test bowling was 7/98 against Australia at Calcutta in 1969–70, and his best match figures 10/194 at Perth in 1977–78, also against Australia. His best first-class bowling was 7/5 for Delhi vs Jammu and Kashmir at New Delhi 1974–75. He bowled 4.2 maiden overs per wicket. He held the world record for the most economical bowling figures in a 60-over ODI match amongst bowlers who had completed their quota of overs: 12–8–6–1 against East Africa at Headingley in the 1975 World Cup. His highest Test score was 50 not out, his only half century at Test level, scored against New Zealand in Kanpur in 1976.

Did You Know?

• Bedi is second to Lance Gibbs in terms of maiden overs per test, 16.35 against 16.62.
• In 2008, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack named Bedi as one of the five best cricketers to have not been selected as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
• Bedi became the first captain to concede an international cricket match, in a 1978 ODI against Pakistan at Sahiwal, in protest at the bowling of Sarfraz Nawaz.
• His son Angad Bedi is an Indian actor and former model, and his daughter-in-law Neha Dhupia is a well known Bollywood actress.