India, July 19 -- Sir Garfield Sobers was the greatest cricketer to have walked the earth and "everything we dream of becoming when we first pick up a bat or a ball as a kid", former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said.

Widely regarded as the finest all-rounder in cricket history, Sobers passed away at his home in Barbados on Friday, just 11 days short of his 90th birthday.

Across 93 Tests for the West Indies, he redefined the limits of the sport with his brilliance as a batter, bowler and fielder.

"This is probably the saddest day for the game of cricket. The greatest cricketer to walk the earth has left us. No words can ever do justice to Sir Garfield Sobers, the cricketer.

"He was everything we dream of becoming when we pick up the b...