Angad Bedi pays tribute to father Bishan in heartfelt eulogy
What's the story
Renowned cricket icon Bishan Singh Bedi (77) died on Monday following a prolonged spell of illness.
He is survived by his wife, Anju, and their children, actor Angad Bedi and Neha Bedi.
On Tuesday, Angad and his family took to Instagram to release a heartfelt statement mourning the profound loss.
Bedi was an exceptionally talented left-arm orthodox spinner who represented India in international cricket from 1966 to 1979.
Tribute
'Isn't it completely in Dad's character to bowl us over'
On Instagram, Angad posted a heartfelt message on behalf of his family, saying, "Isn't it completely in Dad's character to bowl us over with the ultimate spin ball, one that even we never saw coming."
He went on to describe his father as the embodiment of a life lived by Nirbhau-Nirvair (without fear or enmity), further adding, "We find solace in knowing that he lived a rich, fearless, and full life that inspired many."
Condolences
Bollywood stars and cricket community offered condolences
Numerous Bollywood celebrities, such as Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, and Abhishek Bachchan, mourned Bedi's passing.
The cricketing community also came together to pay heartfelt tributes to the legendary cricketer.
Former Indian cricket captain Sachin Tendulkar expressed his deep feelings, saying, "To Bishan Paaji, I wasn't just another cricketer; I was like a son. Under his nurturing guidance, I scored my first 100 in England... The world seems a little emptier without you, Paaji, (sic)."
Twitter Post
Take a look at Tendulkar's X post
"Sashu," he'd say with warmth that only he possessed. To Bishan Paaji, I wasn't just another cricketer; I was like a son. Under his nurturing guidance, I scored my first 100 in England. On chilly NZ evenings, we'd sit over meals, and I'd hang on to every story he told, every… pic.twitter.com/z0ahschCvp
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 23, 2023
Insights
Bedi's life and legacy
Born in Amritsar on September 25, 1946, Bedi was revered for his exceptional control of flight and spin in cricket.
He employed subtle variations to outsmart batsmen and even led the Indian team to victory when Ajit Wadekar was injured during the 1971 series against England.
Notably, in 1970, Bedi received the Padma Shri award. Most recently, he made a brief appearance in his son Angad's cricket-themed film, Ghoomer, earlier this year.
Record-breaking achievements
Bedi's record-breaking achievements, contributions to Indian cricket
With a remarkable record of 266 wickets from 67 Test matches, Bedi stands as the eighth-highest wicket-taker for India.
Among left-arm spinners in Test cricket, he further solidified his legacy, ranking as the fifth-highest wicket-taker.
Bedi had a special affinity for competing against England, where he excelled.
Over the course of 22 Test matches against the English side, he scalped an impressive 85 wickets.
This remarkable record is a testament to his prowess and contributions to Indian cricket.