Cricket loses a giant: West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers dies at 89
Cricket legend and former West Indies captain Sir Garfield Sobers passed away at the age of 89 on Friday, according to media reports.
The news of his demise was confirmed by his son, Daniel.
One of cricket's greatest all-rounders
Born on July 28, 1936, in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sobers represented the West Indies from 1954 to 1974.
A left-handed batsman and an exceptionally versatile bowler, he could bowl left-arm fast-medium, orthodox spin and wrist spin, making him one of the most complete cricketers the game has ever seen.
'๐ผ๐ง๐๐ช๐๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐'
— ICC (@ICC) July 17, 2026
High praise for a phenomenal cricketer, Sir Garfield Sobers pic.twitter.com/Kd6wXcx6NV
A record-breaking career
Sobers played 93 Test matches, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78, including 26 centuries.
In 1958, he set a then-world record by scoring 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston, becoming the youngest player at the time to register a Test triple century.
He also claimed 235 Test wickets and took 109 catches, cementing his reputation as one of the finest all-rounders in cricket history.
Historic six sixes in an over
One of Sobers' most iconic achievements came in 1968, when he became the first cricketer to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket while playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan in England.
West Indies captain and global icon
Sobers captained the West Indies from 1965 to 1972 and played a pivotal role in establishing the Caribbean side as a dominant force in world cricket.
Knighthood and enduring legacy
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 for his outstanding services to cricket and was later inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Sobers' remarkable achievements and unmatched versatility have left an enduring legacy, with many regarding him as the greatest all-round cricketer in the history of the sport.
Condolences
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
An irreplaceable loss to the cricket world .. his skills in that generation was a yardstick for many to judge there own talent .. one of the rarest ..May his soul rest in peace pic.twitter.com/sHJhGJ50lc
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) July 17, 2026
Cricket has lost one of its greatest. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield Sobers. Your legacy will inspire generations.
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 18, 2026
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