orthodox left arm spin 
all silky smoothness 
his arm ball was lethal 
as it came back in 
he gave the ball air 
curling it away

he wore a bright colour patka
for each day of a test 
he bowled all day 
demanding no rest 
a captain’s dream
all control and rhythm 
every batsman knew 
he would keep coming at them 
getting the ball to hurry on 
getting the ball to hold back 
known to be frugal 
he gave nothing away 
even in his containment 
one could sense his attack

part of the famed spin quartet 
where there was 
no first amongst equals 
nobody played second fiddle 
Bishan Singh Bedi 
courageous Captain of India 
who stood his ground 
amongst the pantheon 
of cricket legends 
may his name resound

                               -Neil Daswani