Sunil Gavaskar’s Bowling Dreams: A Glimpse into His Early Aspirations
Sunil Gavaskar is known as one of cricket’s all-time greats, primarily for his batting skills. However, he once had aspirations of being a bowler, dreaming of taking down two of the most famous West Indies players of his time. In a recent interview, the former Indian captain shared how he imagined dismissing Rohan Kanhai behind the stumps and then trapping Garfield Sobers leg-before-wicket with his next delivery.
This daydream belonged to a younger version of Gavaskar, who eventually became celebrated as one of the greatest opening batsmen in cricket history. In reality, his experience as a bowler was quite limited. On his Test debut against the West Indies in Port of Spain, where Sobers played, Gavaskar bowled just one over and wrapped up his Test career with only one wicket, which happened to be Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas.
Reflecting on this period, Gavaskar admitted, “It might sound silly, but back then, we used to practice with the new ball in the nets. No one really paid attention to whether we were bowling from the full 22 yards or a bit closer.” He noted that the Brabourne Stadium had lively nets, where the ball moved around, and this sparked his imagination of being a bowler.
“I thought I could be a bowler, and my dream was to get Rohan Kanhai out caught behind because I could bowl a decent outswinger. Then, off the next ball, I wanted to dismiss Garfield Sobers LBW. That was my little fantasy,” Gavaskar recalled.
Cherished Memories of Sobers
Gavaskar’s admiration for Sobers goes back to his childhood when he first saw the cricket legend play during a tour in India in 1958. He still remembers watching from the North Stand as Sobers faced the Indian bowlers.
“I saw him get out off Ghulam Guard, a left-arm fast bowler. After Guard bowled a bouncer, Sobers attempted a hook shot, and the bat flew out of his hand, landing in the air for Guard to catch,” he reminisced, expressing his disappointment that Sobers only managed to score 25 runs. Even as an Indian fan, Gavaskar hoped that Sobers and Kanhai would score more, which didn’t happen that day.
However, Sobers made a stunning comeback in the second innings, hitting Guard for a big score. “In his next turn, he smashed another bouncer over to the tennis court, ending up with 142 not out,” Gavaskar recalled proudly.
A Special Moment at Brabourne
Gavaskar also reminisced about an unforgettable moment watching Sobers at the Brabourne Stadium in December 1966. Though he was underage and technically not allowed in the pavilion, he found a way to see the action unfold.
“I wasn’t supposed to be there since I was under 18, but the rules allowed us to be near the children’s area. That’s how I got to witness Sobers play,” he explained.
From 1954 to 1974, Sobers represented the West Indies, accumulating 8,032 runs in 93 Test matches at an impressive average of 57.78, while also taking 235 wickets. He is remembered as one of the finest all-rounders in cricket history, known for his stylish batting, versatile bowling, and exceptional fielding. In 1975, he was knighted in recognition of his contributions to the sport. Sobers passed away on July 17, 2026, at the age of 89, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that continues to inspire cricketers around the world.
