Sobers revolutionised cricket, he inspired all of us: Kapil Dev

Legendary Sir Garfield Sobers was a trend-setting revolutionary who altered cricketers’ mindset and approach to the sport, reckoned former India skipper Kapil Dev.

Sobers, 89, died at his home in Barbados on Friday. During an illustrious career, the West Indian had amassed 8032 runs in 93 Tests at an average of 57.78 with 26 hundreds along with 235 wickets.

“I think anybody who knows about cricket should know about Gary Sobers. One of the finest cricketers ever born on this earth,” Kapil Dev told PTI in an interview at the KDSG (Kapil Dev Sanjay Gupta) Hospital here on Saturday. “The way he played cricket inspired people like us. Yeah, it’s a sad day. He’s no more, but he’s given us so much-so much cricket and his talent and ability which we follow throughout our lives,” Kapil added.  The 1983 World Cup-winning skipper said Sobers’ sheer talent and love for the game made him such a great player. “I think it’s the talent, the way he used to enjoy himself and the way he used to play. I think during that era, no doubt the West Indies team was one of the best, but he set records and shifted people’s mindset of how to play and enjoy,” he said. Kapil then explained the impact of Sobers in traditional cricketing coaching methods.  “The biggest thing I remember is that he changed the method of MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) cricket coaching, what we used to call playing in ‘V’.

“And I think the first thing I came to know is not playing V, how you can get runs. I think that was the biggest statement stuck in my mind when I was growing up,” he recalled. The 67-year-old said Sobers was in a league of his own as an all-rounder.

“I think, well, we had all-rounders, but not on his scale. I don’t think anybody can come close to him, the way he played batting, bowling, fast bowling, spin bowling, fielding.

“Everything — he had the ability and the knack for entertaining. At the end of the day, many cricketers will emerge, but very few will be true entertainers,” he noted.

Kapil, himself a premier all-rounder in his playing days, said there was so much to learn from the Bajan.

“I think 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 enjoyed his life.  “In the evening, he used to sit and talk and we were just good listeners.

He talked, but he used to talk more about other things in life rather than cricket,” he remembered.