3 min readUpdated: Jul 17, 2026 10:32 PM IST
Former West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers died on Friday at the age of 89 at home in Barbados. Sobers is widely regarded as cricket’s greatest all-rounder.
“A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,” Cricket West Indies said in a post on X.
A left-handed batsman who could bowl in the vastly different styles of fast-medium, orthodox spin and wrist spin, as well as a brilliant fielder, Barbados-born Sobers represented the West Indies in 93 Tests from 1954 to 1974.
Withoutmuch debate, Sobers is considered the greatest all-rounder that the sport has seen. He scored over 8,000 Test runs and picked up 235 wickets on the international arena, and overall, more than 28,000 runs and a staggering 1043 wickets.
“The greatest all-round cricketer the world has seen”. He wrote: “Sobers was a brilliant batsman, splendid fielder, particularly close to the wicket, and a bowler of extraordinary skill, whether bowling with the new ball, providing orthodox left-arm spin or over-the-wrist spin,” late Richie Benaud, renowned broadcaster, said.
In Barbados & in the company of greatness! 🫡 🫡#TeamIndia meet one of the greatest of the game – Sir Garfield Sobers 🙌 🙌#WIvIND pic.twitter.com/f2u1sbtRmP
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 5, 2023
In 2023 when Indian side was touring West Indies for white-ball series Rohit Sharma and premier batter Virat Kohli Sobers.
Sobers had his wife by his side and the clip has gone viral on social media.
Incidentally in 2020, Kohli was awarded with the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for male cricketer of the decade.
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In a statement on behalf of Cricket West Indies, the board president, Dr. The Hon. Kishore Shallow said: “There are moments in the story of a people when the life of one individual becomes woven into the hopes, dreams, and identity of generations,” Swallow added. “Today, the Caribbean mourns the passing of such an individual … His mastery of batting, bowling and fielding was unparalleled, but his true significance reached far beyond the boundary ropes.
“He emerged from the Caribbean at a time when our region was finding its voice and asserting its place on the world stage. Through his excellence, he gave millions across our islands and in the diaspora, a renewed belief in what was possible. He showed that greatness was not confined by the size of our nations, the geography of our islands or the circumstances of our beginnings.
“Sir Garfield Sobers became more than a sporting icon. He became a symbol of Caribbean excellence, resilience, and possibility. His achievements brought pride to Barbados, inspiration to the West Indies and admiration from every corner of the cricketing world.”
