Bishan Singh Bedi: A mentor, a friend, and a larger-than-life figure

In a 1973–74 Ranji Trophy quarterfinal matchup against Karnataka, I made my Ranji Trophy debut for Delhi. One morning, I was studying for my examinations and had just led the North Zone under-22 team to victory, when I received a call on the landline.

I exclaimed, "Who is it?" since I didn't want to be bothered after missing so many courses due to cricket. The friend who answered the phone at the hostel said, "Bishan Singh Bedi." I didn't reply because I assumed someone was pulling a practical joke.

The phone phoned again an hour later, and I was informed it was the same caller. I answered the call because I wanted to investigate it further this time. "Piggs, you have to come," Bishan reassured me.

I was caught off guard and wondered what was going on. But I informed him that I couldn't make it this time because my exams were in two weeks. Bishan, though, would not budge.

The Delhi captain begged, "You can't sit out of the team... there's no No. 3." I told him that I would only attend practice if I was guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup, but I was unable to refuse. He was true to his word, but in my first innings I was out for a duck.

We fell short against a formidable Karnataka team that featured players like Erapalli Prasanna and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar. Bishan made sure I was on the team for the following season as well.

My mentor, Bishan was like a father figure to me; he was always willing to lend a helping hand. He instilled values that consistently upheld cricket's ethos and inspired a generation.

Although he was best known for being a spin bowling expert, he was also a ruthlessly honest person in other aspects of his life and was never afraid to express his opinions openly, which prevented him from ever retreating. He said what he thought, which frequently caused controversy.

However, he never gave in to pressure.

I recall an incident when Bishan was leading us in a Ranji Trophy match against Services. Even though they were having trouble, we were unable to get one of their lower-order hitters out. We once requested a catch, and the umpire granted it.

Bishan, though, was enraged. He said, "Why did you appeal for that when you knew the batter wasn't out?" as he screamed at us on the ground. It was only until Bishan called back the batter that he was able to collect himself.

I will never forget the impression that experience had on his character and morals. He was a charismatic figure who had boundless laughter. Bishan's unrestrained laughing could be heard nearly a kilometer away, so you could tell if he was at a party! That was how he was always. He had a great time, partied hard, and played hard.

I had disagreements with Dad later in life, but it never stopped me from loving and respecting him. He was a towering presence, and as a sportsman, he had a lot to teach us.

This custom of exchanging a few moments with the opposing team after a Test match was instituted by him after he was appointed captain of India. After the game, he would stroll over to the Australian changing room to have a beer. It meant there were no hard feelings and that what happened on the ground stayed there.

He was adored and revered by most athletes worldwide because of his motivating personality. He was unique and seemed to have been destined for the cricket world.

I recall when, at IS Bindra's insistence, he accepted the coaching position for Punjab.

He was able to ignore the frequent requests for a year or two, claiming he didn't want to leave Delhi.

However, after agreeing, he informed Mr. Bindra that he would not put up with any mischief and would have the final say on any team-related issues.

He was brutal in his training methods. He discovered that about 150 boys had shown up for practice on the first day. He then instructed them to circle the field 50 times. Fewer than that could complete 25 rounds.

On the second day, there were just sixty players left, and Bishan forced them to reorganize. Just running—no nets, no catching or fielding drills. On the third, Bishan repeated the program with only 40 attendees.

By the time there were about thirty players, he finally gave the order to hang nets. He was a severe taskmaster who showed no mercy.

In 1992–93, Punjab won the Ranji Trophy, proving that their hard effort paid off. They rose to prominence in domestic cricket, and the most of the credit should go to Bishan.

When we last spoke last month, I assured Bishan that we would get together the following month.

I granted his request to meet my wife. That's not going to happen, but I've told his beautiful wife Anju that I will honor our agreement.

It was always necessary to adore and admire Bishan. Regretfully, he will never be duplicated. Peace be with you, dear friend.

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