Two of India’s greatest Test cricketers, Sunil Gavaskar and Bishen Singh Bedi, it is sad to note, have rarely seen eye to eye. Even during their cricketing days, when they were members of the same national side, there was an undercurrent of friction between them. But what has happened in England recently really takes the cake.

In his commentary on the course of the ‘opening Test of the ongoing three game series against England, Gavaskar castigated Bedi in print for having failed to stand by Captain Mohammad Azharrudding. Azhar’s decision, to invite England to bat first on a slow paced Lord’s wicket after he had won the toss, did come in for considerable criticism from all quarters, but Bedi only added fuel to the fire by strolling into the media enclosure and divorcing himself from the admittedly questionable gambit.

Whatever disagreement there may have been between the captain and the tour manager, Bedi did not exactly distinguish himself by disclaiming all responsibility for AZhar’s decision; and, in fact, categorically stating that had he been holding the reins, he would have liked to have bowled last on that wicket.

Most people agreed with Gavaskar that showing up any differences with Azhar in the open in this manner was the wrong thing for Bedi to have done, particularly as both the manager and the captain had agreed before the tour of New Zealand earlier this year that the former would be the team’s official spokesperson to the media, But Bedi apparently could not forgive sunny for demanding the tour managers sacking on the issue.

Fans of the game will remember how the two former captains kept sniping at each ‘other in 1988-89 through their widely syndicated columns. Perhaps Bedi, the most successful member (in the matter of Test wickets claimed) of the illustrious spin trio that served India so well during the 1970s, ‘was never able to forgive Gavaskar for his Joss of national captaincy,

It was after the ill-fated tour of Pakistan in 1978 when Imran Khan slammed Bedi for three consecutive sixes in the closing reaches of one particular Test that Bedi was relieved of the captaincy, and Gavaskar ‘was installed at the helm.

One could hardly blame Gavaskar for the decision of the national selectors to put Bedi’s head on the chopping block for Sunny himself was to suffer a like fate in 1983, when, following the 03 defeat to Imran’s side in Pakistan, Kapil Dev replaced him as the skipper.

However, the episode soured their relations that had been fairly sunny up to that point. Bedi, it will be remembered, had even named his firstborn son Gavas Inder Singh in honour of the “Little Master”, But from the point that Bedi made his exit from the captaincy and then the team, he carried ‘a chip on his shoulder against the younger man,

Notwithstanding all this, one could have said that they were laughing all the way to the bank, even as they were hitting out at each other in their columns since it was Gavaskar’s outfit, Professional Management Group, which was syndicating both columns. So, even as they whetted the public appetite for more by trading insults and investives in print, one could easily envisage them sitting over a drink and congratulating themselves on having made an ass of the readers!

The problem for Bedi at the moment is what while Gavaskar has gone on blithely penning his thoughts for public consumption, the former Test spinner had to quit writing his column after he accepted the fulltime membership of the Indian side, ‘This, Bedi probably felt, gave Gavaskar an unfair advantage and did not give him a ‘chance to retaliate,

However, the clanger he dropped is Typical of the impulsive nature of the man. He shot off an open letter to his onetime teammate, severely criticising him for refusing the honorary membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the most

British commentator, Henry Blofeld, down to size during the recent Austral Asia Cup quadrangular at Sharjah, Blofeld quite unnecessarily asked Sunny whether he agreed that the black hat worn over the patka made Navjot Singh Sidhu look “distinctly villainous”, “No Jess villainous than that checked jacket you are wearing makes you look, Henry!” was Gavaskar’s instantaneous riposte.

The “Little Master” has quite clearly came out the winner in this unfortunate war of words. On the other hand, Bed openly voiced disagreement with Azharrudding is already beginning to create problems for him in India. Bishwanath Dutta, President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has said that the Board committee will look deeper into the matter.

The writing on the wall, for Bishen Singh Bedi, is clear. Unless he mends his ways quickly, and forges a more harmonious relationship with his captain, he may well find himself turfed out of the post of manager by the end of this tour!

Article extracted from this publication >> September 14, 1990