Three Indian cricketing greats, Bishen Singh Bedi, Dilip Vengsarkar and Kapil Dev, are being caught in brush by 32-year-old British artist Stuart Pearson Wright. The portraits have been commissioned as part of MCC?s ongoing project, which has, since the early 1990s, aimed to capture as many great players as possible.
The portraits, 6×5 ft in size, are being painted at Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai, which, according to a communication from MCC, ??is an excellent setting and just a short distance from the Cricket Club of India?. Kapil Dev has already had two sittings. ?To me, it is a job. I am doing it, for I was asked to do it,? he said.
How was it like to pose for long stretches? ?I really did not look at it like that,? he said. On his stance for the portrait, he replies pithily, ?Let the painting be completed and you will know.?
MCC said in an email reply, ?Vengsarkar was chosen as he is the only player to score three consecutive Test centuries at Lord?s. The other two are ?merely? great Indian cricketers.? The other Indian cricketer whose portrait adorns MCC is that of Sachin Tendulkar by David Buckland and some items of Ranji memorabilia.
Vengsarkar is looking forward to his sessions, which begin on October 29. ?It will be a challenge to sit for long stretches, but I would like to do it.? The cricketers will pose in cricketing whites and blazer.