‘No one can come close to him’: Kapil Dev hails Sir Garfield Sobers as cricket’s greatest all-rounder

Sir Garfield Sobers and Kapil Dev 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 approach it, former India captain Kapil Dev said as he paid tribute to West Indies following 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 and said his influence went far beyond statistics and records.“I think everyone 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 throughout our lives.”Widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder in cricket history, Sobers died at his home in Barbados on Friday, just 10 days short of his 90th birthday.

“We had all-rounders, but not on his scale”

Kapil, himself one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, believes that no player has ever matched Sobers’ extraordinary versatility.“I mean, well, we’ve had all-rounders, but not on his scale. 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 talent to entertain. At the end of the day, many cricketers will emerge but very few of them 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 used to have fun and the way he played. During that era, the West Indies team was undoubtedly 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 mindset 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 the ‘V’,” he said. “I think the first thing I learned is don’t play V like you can get away. That was the biggest statement that stuck with me growing up.”Kapil also remembered Sobers as a warm personality off the cricket field.“He was a great cricketer. We’ve lost him, but you can learn from the way he played cricket. Hats off to him, how he just enjoyed life. He’d sit and chat in the evening and we were just good listeners. He talked about other things in life rather than cricket,” he added.Sobers’ career remains one of the most unusual in cricket history. He scored 8,032 Test runs at an average of 57.78, took 235 wickets, broke the then world record of 365 not out against Pakistan in 1958 and became the first batsman to hit six sixes in first-class cricket. Sobers Award — named after him, ensuring that his legacy will continue to inspire generations of cricketers.