Virat Kohli leads with touching tribute as cricketing world mourns Sir Garfield Sobers
Virat Kohli paid an emotional tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers after the West Indies legend passed away at the age of 89 on Thursday, July 17.
Virat Kohli led the way with a touching tribute as the cricketing world mourned the death of the great Sir Garfield Sobers on Saturday, July 18. Sobers passed away at the age of 89 on Thursday, which was confirmed by Cricket West Indies on their official X handle.
Kohli penned an emotional message for the legendary batter, saying that cricket lost one of its greatest talents on Thursday and his legacy would inspire many others. The Indian batter shared a special bond with Sobers as the West Indies legend waited to meet him on the field during India's tour in the Carribean in 2023.
"Cricket has lost one of its greatest. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield Sobers. Your legacy will inspire generations," said Kohli on X.
Kohli has, in the past, openly admitted his admiration for Sobers, posting an image of them together in 2016 and revealing how he was blessed to talk to the West Indies legend.
Alongside Kohli, Virender Sehwag, the England cricket board and BCCI president Mithun Manhas also paid touching tributes to Sobers. Sachin Tendulkar also paid his respect to the legend, remembering some of the memories they shared together.
"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. 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," said Tendulkar on X.
Sunil Gavaskar, who credits Sobers for the longevity of his career, said it was the saddest day for cricket while paying his tribute to the legend.
"This is probably the saddest day for the game of cricket," Sunil Gavaskar said, as quoted by Cricbuzz. "The greatest cricketer to walk the earth has left us. No words can ever do justice to Sir Garfield Sobers the cricketer. He was everything we dream of becoming when we pick up the bat or the ball as kids."
"Memories keep flooding back and that's what I will be holding forever close to my heart. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield. You will stay eternally in our hearts."
SIR GARFIELD SOBERS' LEGENDARY CAREER
Sobers was considered to be the gold standard for an all-rounder on the field. A graceful left-handed batter, he could trouble opponents with both pace and spin, while his brilliance in the field completed a skill set few have ever matched.
He broke into the West Indies Test side as a teenager and enjoyed a glittering career, playing 93 Tests. Sobers amassed 8,032 runs at 57.78 with 26 hundreds, picked up 235 wickets and added 109 catches, underlining his influence in every facet of the game.
His unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958 stood as the highest individual Test score at the time, and in 1968 he became the first player to clear the ropes six times in a single over in first-class cricket. Those feats, along with a knighthood, a place among Wisden's Cricketers of the Century and induction into the ICC Hall of Fame, cemented his status as one of cricket's greatest-ever players.
Virat Kohli led the way with a touching tribute as the cricketing world mourned the death of the great Sir Garfield Sobers on Saturday, July 18. Sobers passed away at the age of 89 on Thursday, which was confirmed by Cricket West Indies on their official X handle.
Kohli penned an emotional message for the legendary batter, saying that cricket lost one of its greatest talents on Thursday and his legacy would inspire many others. The Indian batter shared a special bond with Sobers as the West Indies legend waited to meet him on the field during India's tour in the Carribean in 2023.
"Cricket has lost one of its greatest. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield Sobers. Your legacy will inspire generations," said Kohli on X.
Kohli has, in the past, openly admitted his admiration for Sobers, posting an image of them together in 2016 and revealing how he was blessed to talk to the West Indies legend.
Alongside Kohli, Virender Sehwag, the England cricket board and BCCI president Mithun Manhas also paid touching tributes to Sobers. Sachin Tendulkar also paid his respect to the legend, remembering some of the memories they shared together.
"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. 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," said Tendulkar on X.
Sunil Gavaskar, who credits Sobers for the longevity of his career, said it was the saddest day for cricket while paying his tribute to the legend.
"This is probably the saddest day for the game of cricket," Sunil Gavaskar said, as quoted by Cricbuzz. "The greatest cricketer to walk the earth has left us. No words can ever do justice to Sir Garfield Sobers the cricketer. He was everything we dream of becoming when we pick up the bat or the ball as kids."
"Memories keep flooding back and that's what I will be holding forever close to my heart. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield. You will stay eternally in our hearts."
SIR GARFIELD SOBERS' LEGENDARY CAREER
Sobers was considered to be the gold standard for an all-rounder on the field. A graceful left-handed batter, he could trouble opponents with both pace and spin, while his brilliance in the field completed a skill set few have ever matched.
He broke into the West Indies Test side as a teenager and enjoyed a glittering career, playing 93 Tests. Sobers amassed 8,032 runs at 57.78 with 26 hundreds, picked up 235 wickets and added 109 catches, underlining his influence in every facet of the game.
His unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958 stood as the highest individual Test score at the time, and in 1968 he became the first player to clear the ropes six times in a single over in first-class cricket. Those feats, along with a knighthood, a place among Wisden's Cricketers of the Century and induction into the ICC Hall of Fame, cemented his status as one of cricket's greatest-ever players.
Virat Kohli led the way with a touching tribute as the cricketing world mourned the death of the great Sir Garfield Sobers on Saturday, July 18. Sobers passed away at the age of 89 on Thursday, which was confirmed by Cricket West Indies on their official X handle.
Kohli penned an emotional message for the legendary batter, saying that cricket lost one of its greatest talents on Thursday and his legacy would inspire many others. The Indian batter shared a special bond with Sobers as the West Indies legend waited to meet him on the field during India's tour in the Carribean in 2023.
"Cricket has lost one of its greatest. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield Sobers. Your legacy will inspire generations," said Kohli on X.
Kohli has, in the past, openly admitted his admiration for Sobers, posting an image of them together in 2016 and revealing how he was blessed to talk to the West Indies legend.
Alongside Kohli, Virender Sehwag, the England cricket board and BCCI president Mithun Manhas also paid touching tributes to Sobers. Sachin Tendulkar also paid his respect to the legend, remembering some of the memories they shared together.
"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. 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," said Tendulkar on X.
Sunil Gavaskar, who credits Sobers for the longevity of his career, said it was the saddest day for cricket while paying his tribute to the legend.
"This is probably the saddest day for the game of cricket," Sunil Gavaskar said, as quoted by Cricbuzz. "The greatest cricketer to walk the earth has left us. No words can ever do justice to Sir Garfield Sobers the cricketer. He was everything we dream of becoming when we pick up the bat or the ball as kids."
"Memories keep flooding back and that's what I will be holding forever close to my heart. Rest in peace, Sir Garfield. You will stay eternally in our hearts."
SIR GARFIELD SOBERS' LEGENDARY CAREER
Sobers was considered to be the gold standard for an all-rounder on the field. A graceful left-handed batter, he could trouble opponents with both pace and spin, while his brilliance in the field completed a skill set few have ever matched.
He broke into the West Indies Test side as a teenager and enjoyed a glittering career, playing 93 Tests. Sobers amassed 8,032 runs at 57.78 with 26 hundreds, picked up 235 wickets and added 109 catches, underlining his influence in every facet of the game.
His unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958 stood as the highest individual Test score at the time, and in 1968 he became the first player to clear the ropes six times in a single over in first-class cricket. Those feats, along with a knighthood, a place among Wisden's Cricketers of the Century and induction into the ICC Hall of Fame, cemented his status as one of cricket's greatest-ever players.
