Source: NDTV Sports

The passing of a cricketing icon often unlocks a treasure trove of untold stories, shedding new light on the figures we lionise from afar. Such is the case with the recent recollections of former India spinner Dilip Doshi, who, in a poignant tribute following the demise of Sir Garfield Sobers at 89, shared an anecdote that not only humanises the legendary West Indies all-rounder but also celebrates the shrewd tactical genius of India’s Ajit Wadekar during the historic 1971 tour.

Sobers, a name synonymous with unparalleled dominance and effortless grace, was believed by many to be almost superhuman on the cricket field. Yet, Doshi’s revelation paints a picture of a man who, despite his colossal talent, harboured a deeply superstitious side, a vulnerability that Indian captain Wadekar masterfully exploited in a pivotal moment of cricketing history.

The Unbreakable Aura Meets a Quirky Ritual

Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder the game has ever seen, commanded respect and fear in equal measure. His batting was exquisite, his bowling versatile, and his fielding electrifying. He was a player who could, as Doshi noted, ‘dominate a cricket field like few others’. However, behind this formidable exterior lay a peculiar belief: a gentle tap on the shoulder of a young Sunil Gavaskar before batting would bring him a century. This wasn’t just a fleeting thought; Doshi states, ‘He believed that a gentle tap on Gavaskar’s shoulder before batting would bring him a ton’.

This insight, shared by Doshi who had the privilege of sharing the commentary box with the West Indies great, comes a day after Sobers’ passing, offering a unique glimpse into the human elements that shaped even the most towering figures of the sport. It’s a reminder that beneath the statistics and highlight reels, cricketers, even legends, grapple with their own quirks, rituals, and sometimes, profound superstitions.

1971: A Series of Firsts and Fortunes

The year 1971 holds a hallowed place in Indian cricket history. It was the year India, under the astute leadership of Ajit Wadekar, achieved a remarkable feat: their first-ever Test series victory in the West Indies. The tour was also a coming-out party for a prodigious young opener named Sunil Gavaskar, who, despite only playing in four Tests, amassed an astonishing 774 runs, cementing his legend before it had even truly begun. It was within this context of Indian ascendancy and West Indian defiance that Sobers’ superstition played out.

As Doshi recounted, India was leading the series 1-0 heading into the decisive final Test. West Indies faced a target of 262 runs for victory, a task that, for a batsman of Sobers’ calibre, ‘was not a difficult task’. The pressure was immense, the stakes incredibly high. It was in this cauldron of expectation that Sobers sought his unlikely lucky charm.

Wadekar’s Mind Games: The Bathroom Lockout

The unfolding drama in the West Indies dressing room and its immediate vicinity showcases not just Sobers’ idiosyncratic belief but also the psychological acumen of Ajit Wadekar. Wadekar, the cunning captain who had guided India to unprecedented success, was well aware of Sobers’ pre-batting ritual involving Gavaskar. ‘This (Sober’s superstition) was not hidden from the Indian captain Ajit Wadekar,’ Doshi revealed.

As Sobers, clad in his whites, made his way from the field towards the Indian dressing room in search of Gavaskar, a ‘very luck man’ in his estimation, Wadekar sprang into action. Doshi vividly recalled the scene: ‘Gary Sobers was coming from the middle of the field to the Indian dressing room. He immediately said, ‘where is Sunny? Where is Sunny?’ So someone said, he is in the bathroom. He is taking a bath.’ What followed was a stroke of genius from the Indian captain. ‘He immediately closed the bathroom door and locked it and kept the key in his pocket. That was Ajit Wadekar.’

This audacious move ensured that Sobers, despite his determined search, could not locate his ‘lucky charm’. The image of a legendary figure like Sobers, denied his pre-match ritual by a locked bathroom door, is both humorous and telling. It underscores the lengths to which players, even those seemingly immune to pressure, can go to find an edge, however irrational it may seem.

The Game of Fate: A Golden Duck

Deprived of his ritualistic tap on Gavaskar’s shoulder, Sobers was left to face the pitch with perhaps a flicker of doubt, or at least the absence of his perceived good fortune. What transpired next reads like something out of a Greek tragedy, or perhaps a comical twist of fate. ‘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,’ Doshi stated.

A golden duck for one of cricket’s all-time greats, in a crucial Test match, immediately after being thwarted in his superstitious quest. It’s an outcome that, while coincidental, seemed to confirm Sobers’ belief in his lucky ritual. Doshi encapsulated the moment perfectly: ‘This shows no matter how great a player you are, there are still some weaknesses.’

This incident is a fascinating peek behind the curtain of professional sport, illustrating the profound psychological dimensions that often escape public view. It highlights how even the most dominant athletes can be susceptible to self-doubt, or at least the perceived absence of a comforting ritual, when the stakes are highest. Wadekar’s action, while seemingly minor, may well have planted enough psychological uncertainty to contribute to Sobers’ rare failure.

Beyond the Boundary: Sobers’ Full Spectrum of Life

Doshi’s recollections extended beyond the cricketing field, offering a more complete portrait of Sir Garfield Sobers as a man who lived life to the fullest. He remembered Sobers as a ‘party person’ and a ‘super dancer’, with stories of his exuberance off the field being ‘well documented’. Yet, Doshi emphasised that Sobers’ enjoyment of life never overshadowed his professional dedication. ‘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.’

Another poignant anecdote from Doshi recalled Sobers’ romantic pursuit of Indian 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.’ This story adds another layer to the legendary figure, showcasing his human vulnerabilities and capacity for deep personal emotion, far removed from the fierce competitor on the pitch.

A Legacy Etched in Greatness and Human Folly

Dilip Doshi’s recent sharing of these stories, particularly in the wake of Sir Garfield Sobers’ passing, serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of cricketing legends, not just through their on-field heroics but also through the personal tales that reveal their humanity. The anecdote of the lucky tap and the locked bathroom door is more than just a quirky tale; it’s a testament to the psychological warfare inherent in elite sport and the brilliant quick-wittedness of captains like Ajit Wadekar.

Sobers’ incredible statistics — 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and 235 wickets at 34.03 in Test cricket — speak volumes about his unparalleled skill. Yet, it is anecdotes like Doshi’s that truly bring the legend to life, allowing us to connect with the man behind the monumental achievements. As Doshi concluded with deep affection, ‘It makes me sad that he is no more. The greatest all-rounder in the game, without a doubt.’

The story of Sobers, Gavaskar, and Wadekar’s strategic ‘lockout’ will undoubtedly join the annals of cricket folklore, forever highlighting that even the most formidable figures are susceptible to the quirks of the human mind, and that sometimes, the greatest battles are won not just with bat and ball, but with a well-placed lock and key.

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Disclaimer: This article draws on reporting originally published by NDTV Sports, expanded with additional analysis and context by the Cricket Mantra editorial team.