Scindia was a true sportsman: Bedi

Amongst the large crowd that gathered to pay their last respects to Madhavrao Scindia was former India cricket captain Bishen Singh Bedi. With a wreath in hand, the legendary spinner waited patiently outside the Scindia residence in New Delhi.

"I came here to pay respect to the man who, I can say without any doubt, was one of the true sportsmen I have seen in my life," Bedi told rediff.com as he came out of the Scindia home.

Bedi recalled his first meeting with Scindia that took place years ago.

"He was then the railway minister. I found that the man had tremendous interest in sports and particularly the game of cricket. He later became the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. He held the post for three years," he said.

The former captain said he has memories of many moments he shared with the departed soul.

"There were many lighter moments also, but I think this is not the appropriate time to share those incidents with you," he added.

Saying he is not one who is interested in Indian politics, Bedi wondered why so many bright stars of Indian polity are dying young.

"His death has left a vaccum that would be difficult to fill. I wonder why this is happening to India. First, Rajesh Pilot went, and now Scindia. Both were nice human beings and gems at heart," Bedi said.

He said Scindia, in recent times, had lost interest in cricket.

"Whether the controversy involving match-fixing had anything to do with this, I don't know. Of late he had developed more interest in golf and would spend more time on the golf course than on the cricket ground. He was one person who liked to control the game. He loved to captain the team."

Scindia's death - the complete coverage