The late Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder in cricket history, could dominate opponents with bat and ball like few others. Yet, despite his extraordinary talent, the West Indies icon had a surprisingly superstitious side.
Former India spinner Dilip Doshi, who shared the commentary box with Sobers on several occasions, revealed a fascinating story about the West Indies legend’s belief that touching Sunil Gavaskar’s shoulder before batting would bring him good fortune.
Speaking to PTI a day after Sobers’ death at the age of 89, Doshi recalled the memorable incident from India’s historic 1971 tour of the West Indies, the same series in which a young Gavaskar announced himself on the world stage by scoring 774 runs.
Sobers’ Lucky Charm: Sunil Gavaskar
According to Doshi, the incident took place during the fourth and final Test of the series. West Indies were trailing 0-1 and needed 262 runs in the final innings to level the series.
Despite being one of the greatest batters of his era, Sobers reportedly believed that touching Gavaskar’s shoulder before going out to bat would help him score a century and guide West Indies to victory.
“Despite all his greatness, there were some things that showed Sobers was only human. And I remember a story that India was playing against West Indies. It was 1971. West Indies was behind 0-1 in the series and it was the last test match.
“West Indies had to make 262 runs to win. And it was not a difficult task for Gary Sobers. Such a big player he was.”
Doshi said Sobers considered Gavaskar to be a lucky charm.
“Having said that, Sobers used to believe that if he touched Gavaskar’s shoulder, he would go on to score a century and win the game for his team. He thought Gavaskar was a very lucky man.”
Ajit Wadekar’s Clever Move
India captain Ajit Wadekar was well aware of Sobers’ superstition and decided to ensure the West Indies skipper never got the opportunity to meet Gavaskar before the innings.
As Sobers approached the Indian dressing room looking for the opener, Wadekar reportedly locked Gavaskar inside the bathroom.
“This (Sobers’ superstition) was not hidden from the Indian captain Ajit Wadekar. Gary Sobers was coming from the middle of the field to the Indian dressing room,” Doshi recalled.
“He immediately said, ‘Where is Sunny? Where is Sunny?’ So someone said, he is in the bathroom. He is taking a bath. So he immediately closed the bathroom door and locked it and kept the key in his pocket. That was Ajit Wadekar.”
Unable to find Gavaskar, Sobers walked away without his customary touch.
The superstition appeared to backfire almost instantly.
“So without touching Gavaskar’s shoulder, Sobers left. And look at the game of fate. That day on the first ball Abid Ali bowled, Sobers got out on 0. This shows no matter how great a player you are, there are still some weaknesses.”
A Life Beyond Cricket
Doshi also remembered Sobers as someone who knew how to enjoy life while never compromising on his commitment to cricket.
“He believed in enjoying life but not at the expense of cricket. He very well knew that his priority was to excel on the field and everything else would follow.”
He also recalled one of the lesser-known stories from Sobers’ personal life involving former actor Anju Mahendroo.
“I remember he came all the way from the West Indies to India to propose to actor Anju Mahendroo. She said no and he quietly went back.”
Paying tribute to the cricketing icon, Doshi said Sobers’ passing marked the end of an era.
“It makes me sad that he is no more. The greatest all-rounder in the game, without a doubt.”
Sir Garfield Sobers passed away at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of cricketers. While his achievements on the field remain unmatched, stories like these offer a glimpse into the human side of one of cricket’s greatest-ever legends.