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NEW DELHI: Sir Garfield Sobers was much more than a legendary all-rounder – he was a cricketer who revolutionized the game and changed the way future generations approached it, former India captain Kapil Dev he said while paying tribute to the West Indian great after his death at the age of 89.Speaking to PTI on Saturday, Kapil described Sobers as one of the best cricketers ever to grace the sport, saying his impact goes far beyond statistics and records.“I think anyone who knows about cricket should know about Gary Sobers. One of the best cricketers ever born on this earth,” Kapil said. “The way he played cricket inspired people like us. It’s a sad day. He’s gone but he gave us so much – so much cricket and his talent and ability that we follow all our lives.”Sobers, widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder in cricket history, died at his home in Barbados on Friday, just 10 days before his 90th birthday.
‘We had versatile players, but not at his level’
Kapil, himself one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, believes that no player has ever been able to match Sobers’ extraordinary versatility.“I mean, well, we’ve had all-rounders, but not at his level. I don’t think anyone can come close to him, the way he played batting, bowling, fast bowling, spin bowling, fielding. Everything – he had the ability and sense of entertainment. At the end of the day, many cricketers will emerge but very few will be real entertainers,” Kapil said.According to Kapil, Sobers’ greatest gift was not only his immense talent, but also the joy with which he played the game.“I think it’s the talent, the way he enjoyed and the way he played. During that era, the West Indies team was undoubtedly one of the best, but he set records and changed the way people thought about how to play and enjoy,” he added.
The man who changed the mindset of cricket
Kapil recalls how Sobers challenged the conventional coaching philosophy of his time and inspired young cricketers to think differently.“The biggest thing I remember is that he changed the coaching method of MCC cricket, what we called playing in the ‘V’,” he said. “I think the first thing I learned not playing V was how you can get runes. That was the biggest statement I remember growing up.”Kapil also remembers Sobers as a warm person off the cricket field.“He was a brilliant cricketer. We’ve lost him but you can learn from the way he played cricket. Hats off to him because he just enjoyed his life. He used to sit and talk in the evening and we were just good listeners. He talked more about other things in life than cricket,” he added.Sobers’ career remains one of the most extraordinary in cricket history. He scored 8,032 Test runs at an average of 57.78, claimed 235 wickets, smashed the then world record 365 against Pakistan in 1958 and became the first batsman to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket in 1968. Knighted in 1975, the Barbados legend also has the ICC’s first individual honor for men — the Sir Garfield Sobers Award — named after him. ensuring that his legacy will continue to inspire generations of cricketers.
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