Cricket world mourns passing of Sir Garfield Sober...

By Priya Nair — 18 July 2026 — 3 min read

The cricket community is mourning the loss of Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away recently at his home in Barbados, just days before his 90th birthday. Tributes have poured in from across the globe, with cricketing legends remembering his profound impact on the sport.

Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain, described Sobers as the greatest cricketer to have ever played the game. Gavaskar stated that Sobers represented everything aspiring young cricketers dream of becoming when they first pick up a bat or ball. He expressed his deep sadness, calling it one of the saddest days for cricket.

Sobers, widely regarded as cricket’s greatest all-rounder, left behind an unmatched legacy. His career spanned two decades, during which he consistently set new standards in batting, bowling, and fielding. Gavaskar shared that memories of Sobers would remain close to his heart forever, wishing him eternal peace.

A Legacy of Excellence

Between 1954 and 1974, Sobers played in 93 Test matches for the West Indies. During this period, he amassed 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78, which included 26 centuries. Beyond his batting prowess, he also took 235 wickets.

Sobers was a left-handed batter, but his versatility extended to his bowling. He was effective as a left-arm fast-medium bowler, a left-arm orthodox spinner, and a left-arm wrist spinner. His exceptional skills also made him one of the finest fielders and close catchers in cricket history.

One of his notable achievements was his unbeaten 365 runs against Pakistan in 1958, which stood as the highest individual score in Test cricket for 36 years. Another significant milestone came in 1968 while he was playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire. He became the first player in first-class cricket to hit six sixes in a single over, a feat accomplished against Malcolm Nash of Glamorgan.

His contributions to cricket were recognised when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975. In 2000, he was named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the 20th Century. His name continues to be honoured through the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, an annual award presented by the ICC to the outstanding men’s international cricketer across all formats.

Tributes from Indian Cricket Icons

Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have also led heartfelt tributes, acknowledging Sobers’ profound impact and his role in inspiring generations of cricketers. Kohli expressed his condolences on X, describing Sobers as one of the greatest figures the sport has ever produced. He highlighted that Sobers’ legacy would continue to inspire future generations.

Tendulkar also shared an emotional tribute, recalling personal interactions with Sobers over the years. He mentioned receiving the Player of the Tournament trophy from Sobers during the 2003 World Cup and being felicitated by him for reaching a century milestone. Tendulkar described Sobers as exceptionally gracious and referred to him as the “One and Only.”

Tendulkar reflected on his last meeting with Sobers in London a few years ago, where they discussed cricket. He expressed how difficult it was to process Sobers’ passing and that he would miss him immensely. The cricket world collectively mourns the loss of a legend who transformed the sport with his all-round excellence.

Sobers’ passing marks a sad day for cricket, but his legacy as a player who excelled with both bat and ball, and set unparalleled standards, will continue to be remembered and celebrated.

His remarkable career included 93 Test matches for the West Indies between 1954 and 1974.