Sharmila Tagore pays her last respects to former India cricket captain Bishan Singh Bedi

Yesteryear film legend Sharmila Tagore paid a visit to late Bishan Singh Bedi’s house on Monday evening to pay her final respects. Bishan Singh Bedi, who was one of the most prominent players of Indian cricket in the 60s and 70s, passed away earlier today at his residence after battling prolonged illness. The cricketing great was 77 years old at the time of his demise.

Sharmila Tagore’s late husband Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was the captain of Indian cricket team in early 70s when Bedi had taken reins from him. Sharmila Tagore and Bedi too had become close friends by association.

In 2018, when Bishan Singh Bedi organised a special event to mark the completion of 25 years of his cricket trust, Sharmila Tagore had graced the occasion with her presence along with her daughters Soha and Saba Ali Khan. The actress narrates many anecdotes about her husband from both on and off field. 

One of Bedi’s close friends informed that he had recently undergone a knee surgery. The surgery eventually led to the spreading of an infection, and Bedi couldn’t recover from it which eventually became the reason for his demise. 

(Bishan Singh Bedi with son and actor Angad Bedi | Image: Instagram/Angad Bedi)

Earlier today, many notable personalities took to social media to mourn the passing away of Bedi, who was a cricketing legend in every which way. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to actors like Suneil Shetty and Sanjay Dutt, celebrities offered their condolences to Bedi’s family as they grieved the cricketer’s demise. 

Born in Amritsar in 1946, Bedi played 67 Tests for India and took 266 wickets with 14 five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul. He was the longest serving Delhi Ranji team captain from 1974 to 1982 and under him the team became a force to reckon with national cricket circuit. He was also a national selector and mentor to many talented spinners like Maninder Singh, Sunil Joshi and Murali Kartik, who all swore by his technical insight. Bedi was also briefly the manager of the Indian cricket team in 1990.

(Bishan Singh Bedi | Image: X/PrayagTiwari)

Bedi is survived by his wife Anju, son Angad and daughter Neha.

(With Inputs from PTI)