Infinite ability

Till I started playing Test cricket, there was no one I could look up to, or wanted to be. I came from a humble background and grew up in provincial Amritsar. I never thought of becoming "someone".

When I saw Garfield Sobers play, I thought he was everything a cricketer should be. He became a sort of idol for me. He was amazing, a natural athlete who could do anything with bat and ball. He was such a joy to watch. He had a superb gait, and a very regal appearance. He stood out by many a mile.

One of the first big games I played was against West Indies for the Prime Minister's XI in December 1966. I bowled to Sobers in that match, and he pulled me for six. We were all applauding the shot but he had begun walking back to the pavilion - he had trodden on the stumps.

As a kid I had sat by the ropes during the tour game between North Zone and the West Indians on their tour of 1958-59. Sobers didn't play that game, but I remember I had pictures of Conrad Hunte, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, and Cammie Smith cut out from newspapers. I never thought I would play against some of those guys one day.

I considered myself very fortunate to come within hand-shaking distance of Sobers. He just stirred me.