Mumbai, July 18: Former Indian cricket team captain and one of the greatest Test batsmen, Sunil Gavaskar, has paid tribute to West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away at his home in Barbados on Friday at the age of 89.
Gavaskar expressed his condolences on X, stating, “Sir Gary, may your soul rest in peace. There will never be another like you. It is with a heavy heart that I received the news that the greatest player, Sir Garfield Sobers, is no more. For anyone who loves this beautiful game, Sir Gary was not just a cricketer; he set the highest standards.”
He continued, “When we talk about all-rounders today, we often look for players who can balance two fields. But Sir Gary? He was a master of five disciplines. He could bat like a dream, bowl fast with the new ball, switch effortlessly to orthodox left-arm spin, bowl wrist spin, and field like a panther at short leg or slip. Watching him glide across the cricket field with those loose, rhythmic Caribbean steps and his collar up was a sight to behold. He played the game with immense joy and a fierce competitive spirit that defined an entire era.”
Gavaskar reminisced, “I remember whenever India played against the West Indies, he would astound everyone. You couldn’t take your eyes off him. Even when he was taking the game away from you, you couldn’t help but marvel at his genius. His innings of 365 not out stood as a monumental achievement for decades, and those six sixes in an over became part of folklore. Yet, off the field, he was always a true gentleman—approachable, generous with his knowledge, and proud of the finest traditions of the game.”
In closing, Gavaskar wrote, “Cricket has lost its brightest gem today. The stands feel a bit quieter, and the game seems dull without him. My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and every cricket lover in the Caribbean and around the world mourning this tremendous loss.”
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh also took to X to express his sorrow, stating, “The cricketing world has lost one of its most brilliant players. Sir Gary Sobers was more than a legend—he was the true definition of greatness, inspiring generations with his extraordinary talent and humility. Sir, your legacy will forever live on in the hearts of cricket lovers worldwide. May your soul rest in peace, Sir Gary Sobers; you will never be forgotten.”
Tributes have also poured in from the ICC, Cricket West Indies, and the BCCI.
Born on July 28, 1936, in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sobers began his international career with a Test match against England in Kingston in 1954. He was a left-handed batsman and a left-arm orthodox and wrist-spin bowler. From 1954 to 1974, he was one of West Indies cricket’s most significant and reliable players, amassing 8,032 runs with 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries in 160 innings across 93 Test matches. His highest score was an unbeaten 365 runs, and he also took 235 wickets. Sobers played one ODI, where he claimed one wicket.
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