Talk about spinning to success

BANGALORE: Bangalore International Centre will host the launch of the book Bishan — Portrait of a Cricketer authored by Suresh Menon, on October 29 at 11 am. Shashi Tharoor will launch the book and Erapalli Prasanna will speak about Bishan Bedi. Bishan Singh Bedi is one of the finest bowlers in Indian cricket. One of the most successful Indian spinners of the 1970s, Bedi played 67 Tests and picked up 266 wickets. This made him the highest Indian wicket-taker at the time.His combination of various techniques was remarkable — variations in spin, speed, and flight, stumped the opposition. According to Penguin Books India, Bedi was playing at a time when Indian cricket was just coming into its own, and  he was part of the incredible Indian victories in England and in the Caribbean in the 1970s. Forthright and outspoken, he clashed with officialdom as he crusaded for players’ rights.This portrait by Suresh Menon, one of India’s finest sports writers, is a remarkable account of an astonishing character — a true cricketing great whose zest and passion for the game remain undiminished.Published by Penguin Books India and with a foreword by Anil Kumble, the book is priced at Rs 299. For more details, contact 9886599675.