GUWAHATI: The Indian cricket fraternity paid heartfelt tributes to legendary West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away at his home in Barbados on Friday at the age of 89, just 10 days before his 90th birthday.
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Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared an emotional tribute, recalling the special moments he spent with Sobers and describing him as the "One and Only."
Taking to social media, Tendulkar wrote, "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 always so exceptionally gracious."
Remembering their final meeting, Tendulkar added, "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."
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar also paid tribute, calling Sobers the greatest cricketer the game has ever seen.
"Rest in peace, Sir Garry. There will never, ever be another like you," Gavaskar wrote.
He added, "It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I hear the news of the passing of the greatest of them all, Sir Garfield Sobers. 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."
Star India batter Virat Kohli also remembered the West Indies legend, writing on X, "Cricket has lost one of its greatest. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield Sobers. Your legacy will inspire generations."
Widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, Sobers enjoyed a remarkable Test career. According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), he scored 8,032 Test runs at an average of 57.78 and picked up 235 wickets at an average of 34.03, making him one of the most complete cricketers the game has ever witnessed.
Sobers made his Test debut against England in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1954, scoring 40 runs across two innings and taking four wickets. In 1968, while representing Nottinghamshire, he became the first player to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket, achieving the feat against Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash.
Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 for his services to cricket, Sobers was later named one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the 20th Century in 2000. His death was confirmed by his son, Daniel Sobers, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter in cricket history.