Kapil Dev recalls an incident when Bishan Singh Bedi sent him as a nightwatchman in Lahore Test

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev recalled an incident when then-Test captain Bishan Singh Bedi promoted him up the batting order in a Test game against Pakistan to play the role of a nightwatchman. However, at that point, Kapil was not aware of the concept of the nightwatchman and ended up scoring runs for his team by playing a decent inning.

Dev also hailed the former Indian captain Bedi for his love and affection. Kapil also reflected on the problem he used to face while conversing with Bedi as the latter knew only two languages, Punjabi and English. Notably, the World Cup-winning captain had made his debut for the Indian team under Bishan Singh Bedi in an ODI fixture against Pakistan on October 1, 1978.

Speaking on the ‘No Filter Neha’ podcast on Saavn with Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia, Kapil Dev recalled, “Oh, when I played my first series in Pakistan, he was a captain and he was a Punjabi. So two things were very important. He couldn’t understand my language. I couldn’t understand his language because he was half English man. He had an accent and he talked with such a great finesse.”

“Bishan paaji, I remember the first shouting I got from him, but a lot of love and affection we got from him as well. I mean, enormous. I can’t even express how much love and affection he’s given us as youngsters,” he added

Kapil Dev reminisces the days when he was terrified of Bishan Singh Bedi

Remembering the Lahore Test, the 61-year-old reckoned that he used to bat at Number 9 or Number 10 position but the captain decided to send him up the order after the main batsman lost his wicket. Kapil played two overs on that day and scored 22 not out and he was very happy about his performance.

However, the same was not the case with Bishan Bedi as he asked Kapil if he knew about the role of the nightwatchman. To this Kapil clarified that he was terrified that he couldn’t even speak a word in his favor.

“But, in the Lahore Test, he sent me as a nightwatchman. Woh jo last ke 5 over hote hai na khelne ke liye. He said to me, ‘Okay, let Kapil go as the main batsman is out.’ I was number 9, 10 batting. So main jaake khela and in two overs, I made 22 not out and overnight I was very happy that I made so many runs.”

“I came back to the dressing room, he got a hold of me, ‘He said, oye, pehelwan, tereko night watchman ka matlab pata hai?’ And, I said pata nahi meri tareef kar rahe hai ya data laga rahe hai, I said haanji paaji, yes paaji.”

“Aaawaz hi nahi nikalti thi. Maine kahan paaji but woh mere idhar ball diye jaa rahe the toh main mare jaa raha tha, merko aata hi nahi rokna. Toh he said night watchman meaning samjho pehle,” Kapil Dev concluded.