NEW DELHI: Sir Garfield Sobers was much more than a legendary all-rounder – he was the cricketer who revolutionized the game and changed how future generations approached it, former India captain. Kapil Dev he said while paying tribute to the West Indian 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 influence extended far beyond statistics and records.“I think anyone who knows about cricket must know about Gary Sobers. One of the finest cricketers ever born on this earth,” said Kapil. “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 all-rounder in cricket history, died at his home in Barbados on Friday, just 10 days before his 90th birthday.
“We had them all, but not on their scale”
Kapil, himself one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, believes 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 can approach him, the way he played batting, bowling, fast bowling, spin bowling, fielding. Everything – he had the ability and the ability to entertain. At the end of the day, many cricketers will emerge, but very few, will be true” Kapil said.According to Kapil, Sobers’ greatest gift was not just his immense talent, but the joy with which he played the game.“I think it’s the talent, the way he has fun and the way he plays. During this era, without a doubt the West Indies team was one of the best, but he set records and changed people’s mindset of how to play and enjoy,” he added.
The man who changed the thinking of cricket
Kapil recalled 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 MCC cricket coaching method, what we used to call playing in ‘V’,” he said. “I think the first thing I knew was not playing V, how you can get races. That was the biggest statement stuck in my mind when I was growing up.”Kapil also remembered Sobers as a warm personality away from the cricket field.“He was a brilliant cricketer. We lost him, but one can learn from the way he played cricket. Hats off to him, as he just lived his life. In the evening, he used to sit and talk 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, hit a world record 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958, and became the first batsman to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket in 1968. Sobers Award – named after him, ensuring his legacy will continue to inspire generations of cricketers.