Sir Garfield Sobers and Kapil Dev
New Delhi: Sir Garfield Sobers was more than just a legendary all-rounder – he was a cricketer who revolutionized the game and changed the way future generations approached it, said former India captain Kapil Dev while paying tribute to the West Indies great after his death at the age of 89.Speaking to PTI on Saturday, Kapil described Sobers as one of the best cricketers to ever grace the sport, saying his impact extended beyond statistics and records.
“I think anyone who knows cricket should know about Gary Sobers. One of the best cricketers to ever be 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 throughout our lives.”Sobers, widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of cricket, 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 players, believes that no player has ever matched Sobers’ extraordinary versatility.“I think, well, we had all-rounders, but not on his scale. I don’t think anyone could get close to him, the way he played batting, bowling, fast bowling, bowling and pitching.”
Everything – he had the ability and talent to entertain. “Eventually, many cricketers will emerge, but few will be true artistes,” Kapil said.According to Capel, Sobers’ greatest gift was not only his immense talent, but also the joy with which he played the game.“I think it was the talent and the way he had fun and the way he played. During that era, the West Indies team was undoubtedly one of the best teams, but he set records and changed people’s mindset about how to play and have fun,” he added.
The man who changed the thinking of cricket
Kapil recalls how Sobers challenged the traditional coaching philosophy of his time and inspired young cricketers to think differently.“The biggest thing I remember is that he changed the way the MCC cricket team coached, which is what we used to call playing with the letter ‘V’,” he said. “I think the first thing I learned was not to play V, how to run. That was the biggest statement that stuck with me when I was growing up.”Kapil also remembered Sobers as a warm personality away from the cricket field.“He was a brilliant cricketer. We have lost him, but one can learn from the way he played cricket. I congratulate him because he enjoyed his life. In the evenings, he would sit and talk and we were just good listeners. He would talk more about other things in life rather than cricket,” he added.Sobers’ career remains one of the most extraordinary in the history of cricket. He scored 8,032 Tests at an average of 57.78, took 235 wickets, broke the then world record 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958, and became the first batsman to hit six sixes in first-class cricket in 1968. The Barbados legend was knighted in 1975, and the ICC’s first men’s individual honor – the Sir Garfield Sobers Award – is named after him, ensuring that His legacy will continue to inspire generations of cricketers.