Virender Sehwag has become popular on Twitter with his creative birthday wishes for various cricketers around the world in recent months.
So, it was no surprise that the former Indian opener decided to wish legendary Indian spinner Bishan Singh Bedi in a similar manner on Sunday.
Sehwag wrote: “Hpy Bdy to a man who did not bowl, but did poetry instead. A man who cheated batsmen with a cherry in hand @BishanBedi.”
Hpy Bdy to a man who did not bowl,but did poetry instead.A man who cheated batsmen with a cherry in hand @BishanBedi pic.twitter.com/R0nwRPePdX
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 25, 2016
Although Sehwag used the word ‘cheated’ figuratively, Bedi wasn’t best amused.
The 70-year-old wrote: “Thx Veeru..but just to clarify..I might’ve deceived batsmen in air or off wkt..but I never ‘cheated’ on Crkt ground..Cheers!”
@virendersehwag Thx Veeru..but just to clarify..I might've deceived batsmen in air or off wkt..but I never 'cheated' on Crkt ground..Cheers!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) September 25, 2016
Bedi, over the years, has been very critical of spinners who have used a significant bend in their bowling arm to gain an advantage. He repeatedly referred to Muttiah Muralitharan as a ‘chucker’ during the Sri Lankan’s illustrious career.
In 2007, Bedi had also taken a dig at Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, who he felt did not bowl with a fair bowling action.
“Chucking is a bigger disgrace than match-fixing because it is done out in the open. It is the scourge of cricket and must be stopped. Harbhajan is also surviving on the 15-degree allowance. They’re having a ball, these bowlers,” Bedi had said.
