"Indian Cricket is surely poorer today": BCCI mourns demise of spin great Bishan Singh Bedi

The celebrated left-arm spinner, who formed a much-vaunted spinning quartet along with Erapalli Prasanna, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar in his heydays, passed away in Delhi on Monday after a prolonged illness.

The legendary spinner represented India in 67 Tests and 10 ODIs, taking a combined of 273 wickets.

Renowned for his profound understanding of the game, Bedi's elegant and rhythmic bowling action, coupled with his ability to generate prodigious spin, and his discipline with the ball earned him tremendous success.

With an astounding 1560 first-class wickets to his credit, Mr Bedi also led India in 22 Tests, with three of the six wins coming on foreign soil. He also featured in India's inaugural ODI, played on July 13, 1974, in Leeds. At the time of his retirement, Bedi held the distinction of being India's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Post-retirement, he briefly served as Manager and was also a national selector. His illustrious cricketing journey was aptly recognised with several accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 1970 and BCCI's CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

"Indian Cricket is surely poorer today. Not only was he among the greatest left-arm spinners in the world, but his passion and devotion to the game truly stood out. His skill with the ball was unmatched, and his cricketing wisdom was invaluable. He leaves behind a rich legacy that generations of cricketers can continue to follow. In this trying period, my thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones," BCCI President Roger Binny said in an official statement.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said the legendary spinner left an indelible mark on the gentlemen's game with his artistry as a spin bowler and his impeccable character.

"Indian Cricket has lost an icon today. Bedi Sir defined an era of cricket and he left an indelible mark on the game with his artistry as a spin bowler and his impeccable character. His steadfast persona and astute insights have had a profound impact on the game as a whole. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones as they cope with this loss," Jay Shah said in a statement.

"This is the end of an era. We have lost one of the finest spinners the game has ever seen. I fondly remember my meetings with him and our conversations often revolved around the game and how it has evolved over the years. Despite his age, his reading of the game was astute. He remained a keen follower of the game right throughout. May his soul rest in peace," Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI vice president, said. (ANI)