Ranji Trophy-winning players remember coach Bishan Singh Bedi as visionary who transformed Punjab cricket

Deepankar Sharda

Chandigarh, October 23

It is difficult to imagine a coach massaging a player’s feet or ensuring a five-star stay for his team from his own pocket. These were, however, some of the experiences of the Punjab cricketers who conquered India under the guidance of the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi.

Bedi, who was born in Amritsar, was the coach of the Punjab team from 1986 to 1994. During his stint, the team witnessed a transformation. From high-altitude training camps to special focus on fielding, the visionary Bedi made the players believe in their capabilities. It was during his tenure that Punjab lifted the Ranji Trophy in 1993 for the only time.

2.14 Bishan Singh Bedi’s economy rate reflected his control. Of the bowlers with at least 200 Test wickets, only Lance Gibbs, Richie Benaud and Derek Underwood have better economy rates

2 Successive Ranji Trophy titles as captain of Delhi. In 1978-79, Delhi beat Gundappa Viswanath’s Karnataka before getting the better of Sunil Gavaskar’s Bombay next year. He led Delhi to four Ranji Trophy finals

“It was in 1991-92 when the board (BCCI) didn’t give much payment to the states and the teams used to stay in low-budget hotels,” said Rajdeep Kalsi, a member of the 1993 team.

“He arranged our stay at a very famous five-star hotel in New Delhi. He wanted to show us that if we played well what was awaiting us in the future. No one had ever thought that Punjab would win a title. We were happy defeating teams like Jammu & Kashmir or Himachal Pradesh, but it was during his stint the state witnessed a huge change,” he added.

Gursharan Singh, former India cricketer and captain of 1993 team, said Bedi was a great visionary. “He was a great planner. He started planning the revival of Punjab cricket in 1986,” Gursharan said from Bedi’s residence in New Delhi.

“During the 1993 Ranji Trophy, he trained us so well in fielding that I took 19 catches, Vikram Rathour took 14 catches and Arun Sharma took over 25 catches,” he added.

“He never let his trainees down and was very clear with his instructions. He would pamper or rebuke in a very clear manner, and the players used to take every word of his seriously,” he added.

Though a taskmaster, Bedi would also treat his players as friends in order to boost their confidence. “He was a gem of a person,” said former India player Bhupinder Singh (Senior), who was also part of the Ranji Trophy-winning team.

“He helped us grow not only as cricketers but also as human beings. There was an incident during one of the matches. He called me into his room and offered me a drink. During our conversation, he guided me on how to bowl to an opponent (a decorated batsman). I followed his advice, which ended up being absolutely correct. He was such a keen observer,” he added.

Left-arm spinner Bharti Vij, another member of the Ranji team, said Bedi’s contribution to Punjab cricket could never be forgotten. “He was a great mentor and knew how to encourage the youngsters. He made Pankaj (Dharmani) and Amit (Sharma) play in the senior team. He knew how to get the best out of a player,” Vij said.

Arun Bedi, who was also in the Ranji team, said Bedi’s mantra was “train hard, win easy”.

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I shared such a long friendship with Bedi. He was so much more than a teammate, a true friend whom I could call anytime. It’s a huge personal loss. He was a terrific bowler. His use of crease and angles was just stunning. He had just about every trick up his sleeve, not to mention his flight. BS Chandrasekhar, former India leg-spinner and Bedi’s teammate

‘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. Sachin Tendulkar, former India captain

It is a massive loss for me. He was not just a coach, but a mentor, a father-figure. We would spend hours together talking about the art of spin, and about life. He was always a call away for me. He was an ocean of wisdom. Sunil Joshi, former India left-arm spinner and Bedi’s pupil

He was talented and hard-working. He always polished his skills at nets. He had wonderful control over his craft, his flight and dip always put batsmen in two minds. Such a wonderful bowler to watch. A great loss indeed for cricket.  VV Kumar, former India leg-spinner and Bedi’s senior

What a great personality he was. A kind-hearted person, full of humour. There was never a dull moment when he was around. He was a world-class cricketer but an even better human being. I have lost my closest friend on the other side of the border. Intikhab Alam, former Pakistan captain