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Bishan Bedi, India's legendary spinner, dies at 77

Former India captain was ailing for the last two years and had undergone multiple surgeries during this period

ESPNcricinfo staff

23-Oct-2023 • 1 hr ago

Bishan Bedi was known for his fearless and outspoken views during and after his playing career  •  Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Former India captain Bishan Bedi has died at the age of 77 in Delhi.

Bedi was ailing for the last two years and had undergone multiple surgeries including one on the knee about a month ago. He is survived by his wife Anju, and two children, Neha and Angad.

Widely considered one of the game’s greatest left-arm spinners, Bedi represented India in 67 Tests and ten ODIs from 1967 to 1979. He was India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 266 at an average of 28.71, at the time of his retirement. Bedi, the unorthodox legspinner Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, and offspinners Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivas Venkataraghavan made up the celebrated spin quartet that dominated Indian cricket in the 1970s.

Outside his feats in Indian cricket, Bedi also enjoyed a successful career in the County Championship with Northamptonshire, for whom he took 434 first-class wickets at 20.89.