The Indian cricket team received a delightful surprise during their preparations for the upcoming series against West Indies, as they had the incredible opportunity to meet the legendary Garfield Sobers. As the team was practicing in Barbados, they were graced with the presence of Sobers, accompanied by his wife, at the Kensington Oval. This special encounter took place near the Garfield Sobers Pavilion, and it became a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and the entire team, as they had the privilege of interacting with the iconic West Indies legend.
A heartwarming video shared by the BCCI has been capturing hearts all over the internet, especially for the manner in which Dravid introduced Shubman Gill to Sobers. The video began with captain Rohit shaking hands with Sobers and expressing his gratitude with a sincere “Thank you, sir.” Ajinkya Rahane followed suit, engaging in a warm exchange, while Dravid introduced the veteran Indian batsman to the man who had achieved the remarkable feat of hitting six sixes in an over.
However, the most captivating moment in the video was when Virat Kohli approached Sobers, creating a truly special interaction. This particular segment of the video quickly went viral on social media, with fans labeling it as “where one legend meets the other.”
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But the excitement didn’t stop there. Shubman Gill’s moment to meet Sobers up close and personal was made even more memorable with Dravid’s enthusiastic introduction. “Shubman Gill, one of our most young exciting batsmen,” Dravid proudly exclaimed, which elicited an “Ohh” of appreciation from Sobers himself. As Sobers introduced his wife, Gill responded with genuine admiration, relishing the unforgettable moment.
Shardul Thakur and Ravichandran Ashwin then followed, with Ashwin politely greeting Sobers, saying, “Hello sir, how are you?” The video concluded with Dravid having a brief chat with the legendary Sobers, sealing an extraordinary experience for the entire Indian team.
In Barbados & in the company of greatness! 🫡 🫡#TeamIndia meet one of the greatest of the game – Sir Garfield Sobers 🙌 🙌#WIvIND pic.twitter.com/f2u1sbtRmP
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 5, 2023
Garfield Sobers, widely considered one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, made his mark during his two-decade-long career for the West Indies from 1954 to 1974. Initially known for his bowling, Sobers quickly showcased his prowess with the bat. In 1958, he achieved a monumental feat by scoring an astonishing 375 runs in a Test match against Pakistan, setting a record for the highest individual Test score, a record that stood unbroken for nearly forty years until Brian Lara surpassed it.
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In 1968, Garfield Sobers astounded the cricketing world by hitting Malcolm Nash for six sixes in an over during a First-Class match. Throughout his illustrious Test career, spanning 93 matches, Sobers accumulated an impressive 8,032 runs for the West Indies at an outstanding average of 57.78, in addition to taking 235 wickets.
Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, Sobers was rightly inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009. His exceptional achievements were recognized with the Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 1964, and he was deservedly named the Cricketer of the Century in 2000, solidifying his status as an absolute legend of the game.
