Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Yuvraj Singh and Jay Shah lead tributes after West Indies great Sir Garfield Sobers passed away at the age of 89.
Sachin, Kohli mourn the passing of Sir Garry Sobers (Credit: ICC)
The cricket world came together to mourn the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, the legendary West Indies all-rounder widely regarded as the greatest cricketer the game has ever seen. Sobers died at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy that transcended generations.
Virat Kohli led the tributes, remembering Sobers as one of the sport’s greatest icons.
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“Cricket has lost one of its greatest. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield Sobers. Your legacy will inspire generations,” Kohli wrote on social media.
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Cricket has lost one of its greatest. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield Sobers. Your legacy will inspire generations.
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 18, 2026
Sachin Tendulkar, who shared several memorable moments with Sobers over the years, reflected on their personal bond.
“It’s incredibly tough to process that Sir Garry is gone,” Tendulkar wrote on X. “I’ve been looking back at the memories we shared over the years, from him handing me the Player of the Tournament trophy at the 2003 World Cup to his warm words when he felicitated me for the century milestone.”
“He was always so exceptionally gracious. My mind keeps going back to when we caught up in London a few years ago. We were just sitting and chatting about the game, and it hits me so hard right now that it was the last time we’d ever meet. He truly was the ‘One and Only’. Going to miss him immensely. Rest in peace, Sir Garry.”
It’s incredibly tough to process that Sir Garry is gone. I’ve been looking back at the memories we shared over the years, from him handing me the Player of the Tournament trophy at the 2003 World Cup, to his warm words when he felicitated me for the century milestone. He was… pic.twitter.com/7TfWifVg2l
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 18, 2026
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who often described Sobers as the greatest all-rounder the game has produced, penned a heartfelt tribute.
“Rest in peace, Sir Garry. There will never, ever be another like you,” Gavaskar wrote.
“For anyone who loves this beautiful game, Sir Garry wasn’t just a cricketer; he was the ultimate standard of what a cricketer could be. When we talk about all-rounders today, we often look at players who can balance two disciplines. But Sir Garry was a master of five. He could bat like a dream, bowl fast-medium with the new ball, switch seamlessly to orthodox left-arm spin, bowl wrist spin, and field like a panther.”
Recalling the impact Sobers had whenever India faced the West Indies, Gavaskar added, “Even when he was taking the game away from you, you couldn’t help but marvel at the genius of the man. His 365 not out stood as a mountain for decades, and those six sixes in an over became the stuff of folklore. Yet, off the field, he was always an absolute gentleman.”
ICC Chairman Jay Shah hailed Sobers as a cricketer who redefined greatness.
“The first man to hit six sixes in an over, Sir Garfield Sobers, showed the world that there were no limits to greatness. He did things on the field that most could only dream of, and he did it with grace, humility and joy. Every generation has looked up to him, and every generation to come will continue to do the same. Your legacy is forever.”
Yuvraj Singh, the first batter to replicate Sobers’ feat of hitting six sixes in an over in international cricket, called him “a towering figure in world cricket and a true sporting legend” whose achievements would continue to inspire generations.
Former India captain Mithali Raj, Harbhajan Singh, Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma also paid their respects, while former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews described Sobers as “the standard for greatness” whose influence extended far beyond records and statistics.
Shardul Thakur revealed that only days earlier, Sunil Gavaskar had spoken to him about Sobers’ greatness. “It was hardly 10 days back that I had a conversation with Sunil Gavaskar sir. He spoke highly about Sir Garfield Sobers, and sadly we lost him last night,” Thakur wrote.
The England men’s cricket team posted, “One of the greatest to ever play the game. Forever in our hearts, Sir Garfield Sobers.”
Born in Barbados, Sobers made his first-class debut at the age of 16 before earning his West Indies Test cap a year later. He announced himself on the world stage with an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958, then the highest individual score in Test history, a record that stood for 36 years until Brian Lara surpassed it.
Over a remarkable career spanning 93 Tests, Sobers amassed 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and claimed 235 wickets. His versatility with bat and ball, athleticism in the field and pioneering feat of becoming the first cricketer to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket cemented his status as one of the sport’s most iconic figures.
His passing marks the end of an era, but as tributes from across the cricketing world made clear, Sir Garry Sobers’ legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
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