As Garry Sobers waited in the stands to meet Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

The cricketing world is mourning the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, who died on Friday at the age of 89. Although his incredible stats and records are a thing of history, it was his enduring love for the game and respect for generations to come that truly defined him. A perfect example of this unfolded in July 2023 during India’s all-format tour of the West Indies.

The series marked the last Test appearances for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Caribbean islands. Before the opening match in Barbados, Sobers and his wife attended the Indian team’s training session. Instead of expecting the modern-day stars to come to him, Sobers watched from the stands and walked down to the field after the session.

The former West Indies captain spent time talking to both Rohit and Kohli and was introduced to the young Shubman Gill by then India head coach Rahul Dravid. It was a straightforward and respectful exchange between generations of cricketers and a moment that gave the visiting Indian side an unforgettable link with the history of the game in the West Indies.

CRICKET WILL LOSE ONE OF ITS ICONS

Cricket lost one of its tallest icons on Friday with the death of Sir Garfield Sobers, the quintessential West Indian whose breathtaking all-round brilliance made him one of the greatest players the game has ever known. He was 89 years old and his death leaves a legacy that spans generations.

The former West Indies captain’s death was confirmed by his son Daniel. Born in Bridgetown, Barbados in 1936, Sobers was exactly 11 days short of his 90th birthday.

Widely regarded as the game’s greatest all-rounder, Sobers played 93 Tests and scored 8,032 runs at 57.78 with 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries from March 1954 to April 1974.

A left-handed batsman who was also capable of left-arm pace, wrist spin and orthodox spin, Sobers took 235 wickets in Test cricket. He played in a solitary ODI and took one wicket. He was also a great fielder.

He was also the first ever batsman to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket when he played for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan in 1968.

TRIBUTES POUR FOR THE SOBER

“A great innings is over. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,” wrote Cricket West Indies (CWI) on X.

“There are great players in the history of cricket. There are champions. Then there are rare individuals who redefine the very meaning of greatness. Sir Garfield Sobers was the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen,” the CWI later said in a statement.

“His mastery of batting, bowling and fielding was unparalleled, but his true significance extended far beyond the borders. Sir Garfield Sobers has completed his last innings but his legacy will forever live on in the hearts of our region and in the story of the cricketing world.”

The BCCI said Sobers left “an enduring legacy that inspires generations”.

“The BCCI mourns the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, a true icon of the game and one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders,” it said on X. “His extraordinary achievements, lasting influence on Caribbean cricket and immeasurable contribution to the global game have left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire generations.”

In a statement, Nottinghamshire said: “Nottinghamshire are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers at the age of 89. Arriving at Trent Bridge shortly after the rules on the participation of foreign players in the County Championship were relaxed, Sobers was immediately appointed captain and lifted Notts from 15th place to fourth in his first summer of English domestic cricket.”

“This season ended with Sobers becoming the first ever batsman to hit six sixes in one of six consecutive balls in first-class cricket as he put Glamorgan to the sword at Swansea,” the club added.

A CAREER DEFINED BY UNRIVALED NUMBERS

The ICC’s first annual award is named after the former West Indies captain – the Sir Garfield Sobers Award – to recognize and honor the most outstanding performer in international cricket across formats.

Sobers captained the West Indies in 39 Tests between 1965 and 1972, winning nine, drawing 20 and losing 10. He made his first-class cricket debut at the age of 16 and went on to play his first Test match a year later against England in Kingston.

Sobers’ first hundred, a mammoth 365 (38 fours) against Pakistan in Kingston in February 1958, was also the highest ever Test score by any batsman at the time, achieved at the age of 23. It became the highest individual test score in 36 years.

He played a total of 383 first-class matches, scoring 28,314 runs with 86 centuries and 121 fifties at 54.87, and also took 1,043 wickets.

1958, when he achieved his highest Test score of 365 not out against Pakistan, was his most successful in the format as Sobers made 1299 runs in just eight Tests with a total of six centuries and three fifties. He averaged 144.33.

Sobers remains the fourth-highest wicket-taker in West Indies history and is eighth in the Caribbean side’s list of most wickets.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 for his services to cricket. and in 2000 he was named one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Century.

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Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

17 Jul 2026 22:41 IST