Virat Kohli with legendary West Indies cricketer Garfield Sobers and his wife. (PTI photo)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has led tributes to Sir Garfield Sobers after the legendary West Indies pacer passed away on Friday at the age of 89, remembering him as a “true icon of the game” whose influence will continue to inspire generations.The Indian Cricket Board paid tribute with an emotional post on social media, accompanied by a video of Sobers meeting members of the Indian team during their tour of the West Indies in 2023.
“The BCCI mourns the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, a true icon of the game and one of the greatest cricketers of all time. 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.”
“Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the global cricket fraternity.
May his soul rest in peace.”Sobers’ death was confirmed by his son, Daniel. The Barbados-born legend died just 10 days before his 90th birthday.
The cricket world unites to honor one of the all-time greats
Tributes poured in from across the cricket community shortly after the news broke, as West Indies Cricket posted a heartfelt farewell to one of the sport’s greatest icons.
“The great roles are over. In our hearts, now and forever, is Sir Garfield Soopers,” the board wrote on social media.
Widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder to ever play the game, Sobers has left an unparalleled legacy through his exceptional versatility. A talented left-handed batsman, he can bowl left-arm pace, conventional spin, and wrist spin with equal effectiveness, while also earning a reputation as one of cricket’s finest bowlers.His impact lives on through the ICC’s highest individual honor in men’s cricket – the Sir Garfield Sobers Award, given annually to outstanding cricketers in all international formats.
A career that redefined greatness
Sobers represented the West Indies in 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs at an outstanding average of 57.78, including 26 centuries and 30 half-centuries. With the ball, he took 235 wickets, confirming his status as one of cricket’s most complete bowlers.He announced himself as a batting giant in 1958 by scoring an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan at Sabina Park, breaking the world record then held by Len Hutton for the highest individual Test score. The record stood for 36 years before fellow West Indian Brian Lara surpassed it in 1994.Sobers also etched his name into cricket folklore in 1968 when playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan, he became the first batsman to hit six sixes in a single match in first-class cricket, achieving the feat against Malcolm Nash.Over a remarkable first-class career spanning 383 matches, Sobers amassed 28,314 runs and took 1,043 wickets before being knighted for services to cricket in 1975.