'Deeply Saddened': Virat Kohli Honours Bishan Singh Bedi's Legacy in Heartfelt Tweet
Kohli pays tribute to Bishan Singh Bedi [X.Com]
In a heart-rending moment for the cricket fraternity, legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi passed away at the age of 77 after battling a prolonged illness.
Kohli pays tribute to spin maestro Bishan Singh Bedi
As tributes poured in from around the world, India's cricket icon Virat Kohli took to the popular social media site, Twitter, to express his grief.
Kohli's post read, “Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Bishan Singh Bedi ji. My condolences to the family.”
Bedi, renowned for his left-arm spin bowling, was a master at controlling flight, loop, and spin. He was proficient at using slight variations and clever adjustments in his arm speed release points to baffle batsmen.
His illustrious career saw him don the Indian jersey for 67 Test matches between 1967 and 1979. During this period, he claimed 266 wickets at an impressive average of 28.71, and also accumulated 656 runs. In addition to his Test feats, Bedi played 10 One Day Internationals, securing 7 wickets.
He was a pivotal figure in what is considered the golden era of Indian spin bowling, joining the ranks with Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan. This formidable quartet represented the backbone of India’s bowling brilliance from 1966 to 1978.
Bedi's contributions weren't confined to just his playing days. In 1990, he took on the managerial responsibilities for the Indian cricket team. Known for his frankness, Bedi never hesitated to voice his opinions on cricketing matters, always speaking his mind both during and post his active cricketing years.
Off the field, Bedi was held in high regard for his vast wisdom, profound knowledge, and passion for cricket. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indian sport, he was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1969, followed by the prestigious Padma Shri in 1970. In 2004, he was bestowed with the C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.
 "Jatin")
