Rajinder Goel was better. But I got the lucky break: Bishan Singh Bedi

Bishan Singh Bedi pays tribute to Rajinder Goel, the greatest spinner never to have played for India
The news of Rajinder Goel's untimely death has been devastating for me. He never told me he was suffering from cancer and was in so much pain, but that was typical of the man. He never, ever complained about anything.
I had talked to 'Goeli' - that is how I fondly addressed him - just before the lockdown, and never realised his innings would be up so soon.He was only 77.
It's unjust that 'Goeli' - with 750 first-class wickets, 637 of them in the Ranji Trophy alone, the highest ever - will forever be known as the finest spinner never to have played for India. While it is highly unfortunate that he never got the India cap, 'Goeli' had no regrets. He was a contented soul.
People still feel that it was my presence which kept him out of the India squad - we were both left-arm orthodox spinners - but that's not entirely true. He started before me and ended after me.
He had a first-class career span much longer than mine, with a 24-year stint for Haryana apart from playing for Punjab and Delhi. In fact, when I started playing for Delhi under Nawab of Pataudi's captaincy, he was already in the squad. I remember Tiger rated him very, very highly.
He was just such a lovely soul, a perfect team man. He played most selflessly. Jo bhi kaho karne ko...he would do it. He was such a delight for any captain. He never asked for any field placings, never ever asked for any particular end. Day in and day out he would do the same thing, without moaning, without complaining.
He was never a great conversationalist, being withdrawn and reticent. He was a small-town person, having studied and grown up in Rohtak. When he competed, though, there were no sign of any internal complex.
When I made my debut, he was a much better bowler than I was, but I was simply lucky I got the break. Even when I was kept out because of disciplinary reasons in the 1974-75 West Indies Test, they didn't play him. Maybe if they had, India would have won. I remember when we beat South Zone in the Duleep Trophy in Madras, 'Goeli' simply ran through the opposition.
After all, you don't take 600-plus wickets in the Ranji Trophy just like that. As bowlers, we were similar but also very different. I was slightly slower through the air. He was slightly quicker and flatter but more accurate. It's not that he wouldn't flight the ball, but his basic aspect was his accuracy.
That, and his extreme commitment to his art, defined him. My dear, dear 'Goeli', I will miss you so much.
(Bishan Singh Bedi is a former India captain. He spoke to Partha Bhaduri)