Why cricket needs more men like Bedi

Rex Clementine in Bangalore

India is mourning the death of their former Test captain Bishan Singh Bendi, who passed away in Delhi at the age of 77. Bedi’s cricketing achievements are well documented. He was India’s highest wicket taker in Test match cricket before Kapil Dev went past his record.

Bedi was also captain of the Indian team during some of their finest hours. He was coach of the Indian side that consisted some of their all-time greats. But more than anything, it was Bedi’s courage to be different and frankness that fans admired.

‘Bedi’s death has robbed the game of a voice willing to speak the truth to power,’ wrote Wisden’s Editor Lawrence Booth.

Cricket is a big business these days and so much is at stake for not only the current players but even former cricketers. India has lucrative pension schemes for retired cricketers and no one dares to say anything that will upset the BCCI. Bedi though called a spade a spade.

Bedi played First Class cricket for Delhi and Northamptonshire. Of his 1560 First Class wickets, more than 400 came for the English county. He captained the Delhi side that reached four Ranji Trophy finals and won the title twice.

Bedi’s last ODI in fact was against Sri Lanka in the 1979 World Cup, a game which India went onto lose.

Apparently, Bedi was floored by a Tony Opatha bouncer. When it was Opatha’s chance to bat, Bedi greeted him with a vicious full toss that sent Opatha sprawling to the ground. Slow bowlers can retaliate too!

As captain of India, during the Jamaica Test match of 1976, he declared the innings twice as he suspected that West Indies quicks were keen to send his bowlers to the hospital than getting them out.

The Delhi cricket ground popularly known as Feroz Shah Kotla has a stand named after Bedi.

A few years ago, the name of one of India’s iconic cricket grounds was changed from Feroz Shah Kotla to Arun Jaitley Stadium. Arun Jaitley was a former Finance Minister of India. Bedi protested. He wrote to the authorities asking his name to be taken off the stand and his membership from the Delhi District Cricket Association to be cancelled.

Bedi was a bit like Arjuna. Or the right way to put it is that Arjuna is like Bedi. Both fierce fighters on and off the field, they both had powerful enemies in cricket.

Bedi was remembered all over India yesterday. There was a book launch in Bangalore. The title of the book is ‘Lords of Wankhede’. The book co-authored by former India cricketer W.V. Raman and cricket writer R. Kaushik chronicles India’s journey in world of cricket between their two World Cup wins in 1983 and 2011.

Some prominent names of Indian cricket like Dilip Vengsarkar and V.V.S. Laxman turned up for the book launch and we are treated with some fabulous stories.

Vengsarkar of course was part of the Indian side that won the 1983 World Cup. He recalls the euphoria in India after they beat the mighty West Indies at Lord’s when no one expected them to do so.

“The Indian board invited West Indies for a bilateral series later that year and we were at the receiving end,” Vengsarkar recalls about the series which Clive Lloyd’s side swept 3-0 in Tests and 5-0 in ODIs.

“One of the memories of that series is Gordon Greendige and Vivian Richards competing against each other to find out who hit the ball the furthest.”

Vengsarkar played in over 100 Tests for India. He was also the Chairman of Selectors who handed the captaincy of the Indian team to M.S. Dhoni at a time when he was unknown.

Vengsarkar was left stranded on 98 in the SSC Test match in 1985 where India escape with a draw. India were losing that Test match but together with last man Maninder Singh, Vengsarkar puts up a crucial partnership that robs Sri Lanka time to chase down the target. Draw is ensured but with Vengsarkar is denied a century by just two runs as Maninder throws away his wicket playing a cross batted shot to Saliya Ahangama.

The following year India are in England and at Lord’s Vengsarkar is nearing a Test hundred. In walks last man Maninder Singh and India’s number four reminds him not to throw away his wicket like in Colombo. Maninder behaves and Vengsarkar goes onto score a hundred at Home of Cricket.

Vengsarkar’s cricketing feats are quite unique and among them are three Test hundreds at Lord’s.