Bishan Singh Bedi: An artist, a rebel and forever cricket romantic
Bedi just knew how to touch people's lives with various facets of his character — being an artist, a straight-talker and a mentor to many as and when the need be.
Arguably the greatest slow left-arm bowler that the world has ever seen, Bedi travelled to the other side after three years of illness but left an indelible impression in minds of many with a character to die for. Honest, upright, someone who played the 'Gentleman's Game' for the right reasons.
Sunil Gavaskar ruled the 1970s but ask any Indian cricket fan of that era, what it meant to their ears when late Suresh Saraiya would describe during his commentary stint with All India Radio how a batter was caught by Gavaskar in the slips or stumped by Farokh Engineer with the original 'Turbanator' of Indian cricket jumping in joy.
There are certain words or phrases that become cliches with over-usage and 'Poetry in Motion' is one of them.
It is hackneyed but when it comes to Bedi, it remains an apt description.
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar drew Mohammed Ali's analogy in his book 'Idols' which is a memoir on his peers from cricketing world.
«Floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee» is what they said about Ali and if there was any cricketing equivalent in 70s it was Sardar, who become famous for his multi-coloured 'patkas' (head gear) that he changed during each session.
What was a perfect Bedi delivery?
It would be one which would be tossed up in a parabolic arc above a batter's eye-line.
Just as the batter would come down the track and feel that he had measured that delivery, it would land on the leg-middle line and just kiss the outer edge of the bat or miss it. Either the first slip or the keeper would be in business.
There is a picture from the mid
