‘One will plant, two will plant and how many will plant.’ These were the famous words of Indian spinner Bishan Singh Bedi in Thit Punjabi, when Pakistan lost in the last hour of the final day of the Karachi Test in 1978. India 164 runs were required to win from
This target was very difficult in terms of cricket at that time.
Pakistan sent openers Majid Khan and Asif Iqbal to win the match. Majid got out early but Javed Miandad and Asif Iqbal brought the match closer to victory. In such a situation, Indian team captain Bishan Singh Bedi was satisfied that Pakistan would not be able to score. The reason for this was probably the slow pace of cricket during that period.
At one point Asif Iqbal was also dismissed and Pakistan needed 50 runs in five overs. When Imran Khan came to bat, Bedi himself came to bowl. As soon as Imran came, he hit Bedi for two sixes, Gavaskar said while running away. ‘Captain what are you doing? We will lose.’ Bedi replied in his characteristic manner: ‘Dar na putr. Kanye will kill. Kadar will be torn.’
Bedi could not stop the runs but Imran ended the match with victory.
The ever-laughing Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi’s captaincy career ended with this Test match. He then played the remaining six Test matches under the leadership of Sunil Gavaskar.
Unique player, unique personality
Bishan Singh Bedi was a unique player in the world of cricket. His dress, style of conversation, typical Sikh turban on his head and smile on his face all the time were his hallmarks. He moved his tongue more than his fingers while bowling. Often he would taunt the opposing batsman after bowling, but there was sweetness and sarcasm in this taunt.
He never showed hatred towards the opposing team. After bowling, if he saw that the batsman was making a mistake, he would laugh and give him advice.
‘Pakistani alone’ in India
Bishan Singh Bedi was as open-hearted as he was talkative. He was always a fan of Pakistan India cricket. He loved Pakistan, especially Punjab, so much that he used to call himself ‘the only Pakistani’ in India.
He was close friends with former Pakistan cricketers Sarfraz Nawaz and Mushtaq Muhammad as the three played county cricket together for years in Northamptonshire. When Northamptonshire won the Gillette Cup final for the first time in 1976, it was all three of them.
Bedi has always had excellent relations with Pakistani players. He was a friend of friends and was always remembered. A few years ago, when he came to Kartarpur, a Sikh place of worship, he specially called Ekhta Alam and Shafqat Rana. The three friends reminisced for hours. Ekhta Alam also sang songs for them.
Doubts on patriotism
Bishan Singh Bedi had such close ties with Pakistani players and media that Indian media started calling him ‘Pakistani agent’. Bishan Singh Bedi was never afraid of these accusations but always called Pakistan India cricket as the greatest cricket.
He considered the series with Pakistan to be the pinnacle of cricket and called it a great loss when cricket between the two countries stopped.
Tips for Pakistani bowlers
Former test spinner Iqbal Qasim says that Bedi Sahib was a very cheerful and good-natured person. He would start a conversation with everyone without hesitation, which was admirable.
We met him during the famous Test at Bangalore on the 1987 tour. In those days, the fourth day of a Test match was a rest day. During this test, a dinner was organized for which Tauseef Ahmed and I reached the hotel early. Coincidentally, Bedi Sahib was also sitting.
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We told him that today your student Maninder Singh has bowled brilliantly. Bedi Sahib spoke loudly in Punjabi in his characteristic style: ‘Kya Khak Boling Ki Hai. When on the wicket so much Spin So what is the need to overspin, which makes the ball go two feet outside the wicket.’
We tied his talk in a knot and bowled in the same way on the second day and wiped out India’s batting. Later this news reached the Indian media and Bedi sahib was criticized for giving advice to Pakistani bowlers. To this, Bedi Sahib gave a shrill reply: ‘I have been explaining to the people here for years, but they do not understand, now Pakistanis are learning, so this is their kindness.’
Bowling or organ poetry
Bishan Singh Bedi has always been unique in Indian cricket. The way he bowled, observers considered it more of a dance than bowling. The way he would slowly reach the wicket while moving his left hand above his head and then throw the ball like an expert dancer was a sight to behold. He was the first Indian Sikh player to play cricket with a traditional turban.
A born bowler
It would not be wrong to say that he was a born bowler. Born in Amritsar in 1946, Bedi was selected in the Indian team at the age of 20. Started career in 1966 against West Indies and became a core member of the team from the beginning. Thanks to his bowling, India won the series for the first time in 1971 by defeating the West Indies at home.
In the same year, due to his brilliant bowling, India also won a Test match against England at the Oval for the first time.
Bedi was appointed as the captain in 1975 after Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi in the series against New Zealand. This streak of captaincy continued till the 1978 series against Pakistan.
Bedi led India in 22 matches. He won six matches, including the 1976 Port of Spain match against the West Indies, in which India set a record 406 runs in the fourth innings. This record was later broken by Australia.
Bedi dismissed 266 players in 77 Test matches. He retired after playing for the last time at the Oval in 1979 against England.
He also played county cricket in England for six years and took a total of 1560 wickets in his career.
After retirement, he remained indifferent to cricket for a long time, but he became India’s first professional coach in 1990, when he coached the Punjab team.
Bishan Singh Bedi was a cheerful and lively person. Simple nature and honest conversation was his specialty. They used to openly laugh at what pleased them and openly disagree about what displeased them.
Saddened by the demise of legendary cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi Ji. He was an extraordinary bowler. He provided so much support to young players. I express my deepest condolences to his family and admirers. pic.twitter.com/DMxUQiZ4yK
— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) October 23, 2023
He used to boldly criticize the suspension of Pakistan India cricket. He hated the Indian Premier League (IPL). They used to call it the destruction of cricket. He believed that there was only a traditional style of cricket for a long period of time.
The world of cricket has expressed grief over his death yesterday at the age of 77 after a long illness. Apart from ICC, BCCI, PCB, Indian Prime Minister, Bollywood and former and current cricketers have expressed deep grief.
Bishan Singh Bedi was not a person but an era that gave rise to left-arm bowling. He played the role of spinners in Test cricket and gave a boost to cricket. Bedi’s bowling can now only be found in books and photographs, but his death ended an era of spin bowling.
Bedi is survived by two sons and two daughters from his two marriages.
His younger son Angad is married to actress and model Neha Dhupia, who won the Miss India crown in 2002.
Ex-captain of Pakistan cricket team Ikhta Alam has expressed grief over his death. He told AFP: ‘I had a very pleasant and friendly relationship with him, he was a great sniper and human being.’
This is a huge loss for cricket in general and Pakistan India cricket in particular.
#Bishan #Bedi #tongue #fingers #bowling
2024-10-01 11:40:22
