The cricketing world was left saddened on Monday afternoon after Indian spin bowling legend Bishan Singh Bedi died, at the age of 77, in Delhi. Many former cricketers reacted to the news of his death, including former India captain and the country's leading wicket-taker in its Test history Anil Kumble, who said Bedi had left "a huge void" and would be "dearly missed" by one and all.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), the 52-year-old recalled an incident when he was an engineering student at RV College of Engineering and put forth a request to Bedi to visit the institution. "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. 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," Kumble wrote on Monday.
Kumble, who took 619 wickets in 132 Test matches for India, further said that Bedi tracked his career closely and would often speak to him over the phone, regardless of whether he had had a good or a bad day in the field. "He'd not hesitate to pick up the phone and call me, either complimenting me on a good performance or offering suggestions and advice. He always had a cricketing point to drive home, it was wonderful to have had so many conversations about the game with him," the former leg-spinner wrote.
Kumble further said he enjoyed talking cricket to Bedi and loved the side to his personality, where he called a spade a spade. Bedi was the team manager during Kumble's debut Test tour with India to England in 1990.
Also read: Bishan Singh Bedi dies at 77: PM Modi, cricketers, dignitaries mourn spin legend
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