Indian cricket suffered a huge loss on Monday (October 23) as legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi passed away at the age of 77 after a prolonged illness.

Bedi was a left-arm spinner who also captained the Indian team in 22 Tests.  He was an active cricketer from 1967 to 1979, representing India in 67 Tests and 10 ODIs.

While Bedi claimed 266 wickets at an average of 28.71 in the longest format, he bagged a total of seven wickets in ODIs.

Widely regarded as one of the finest spinners produced by India, Bedi was among the architects of spin bowling revolution in India. He was part of India’s first-ever overseas Test series win in New Zealand in 1968. He also featured in the Test series win on the Caribbean soil in 1971.

After his retirement from the game, Bedi worked as a coach and mentor for several budding Indian cricketers. He also served as the manager of the Indian cricket team in 1990 during tours of New Zealand and England.

As the news of his demise came out, Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar expressed his sorrow and paid rich tribute to Bishan Singh Bedi.

Taking to social media platform X, Tendulkar wrote: "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 piece of wisdom he shared. Today, there's an echoing silence where his voice used to be. The world seems a little emptier without you, Paaji. Rest in the eternal peace you so deserve.”

Another giant of Indian cricket, Anil Kumble, penned a heartfelt note on Bedi’s impact on his career.

“In 1990, before the England tour, we had a camp in Bengaluru, and it was there that I had the first experience of Bishan paaji’s big heart and generosity,” Kumble wrote on X.

“I had requested him if it would be possible for the Indian team to visit RV College of Engineering, where I was a student. I was only a rookie, and it could have been construed as an over-enthusiastic request from an excited youngster, but in a fantastic gesture, Bishan paaji readily agreed and brought the whole team over to the college. That made a lasting impression on me,” he added.

Kumble also narrated an incident from the India tour of England when he was unable to meet Bedi’s expectations.

“I remember him saying in his inimitable style, ‘Come on son, you have weak legs.’ He summoned my good friend Venkatapathi Raju, instructed him to sit on my shoulder and told me to do baithaks. I could hear my back go! That’s Bishan paaji – uncompromising, to go with his heart of gold.”

Kumble also opened up on Bedi’s persona as he wrote: “Whenever anything surrounding Indian cricket transpires, he immediately reaches out, sometimes with a helping hand, at others with a biting remark. I love that he calls a spade a spade, that he is happy to speak his mind even if it doesn’t always sit well with everyone. He has an opinion that he stands by, come what may. He is a very spiritual man, and many of his messages reflect that side of his persona, too.”

“You have left a huge void, Bishan paaji. You will be dearly missed,” Kumble concluded.