Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed into the ages on July 17, would have turned 90 today, July 28. Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam remembers a dear friend who he believes was 'undoubtedly the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen.'
I was armed with two dictaphones -- and a bottle of whisky that the editor had paid for, to lubricate the conversation.
Sir Garfield Sobers, widely considered the greatest all-rounder in cricket history, passed away just days before his 90th birthday, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy that included a significant connection with India both on and off the field.
Sir Garfield Sobers' wit was as effortless as his genius with bat and ball. Farokh Engineer recalled one such unforgettable moment on a golf course in Australia when the West Indies legend, watching Sunil Gavaskar repeatedly top the ball, quipped: "This is one game where you are allowed to hit the ball in the air."
The India and England players wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence ahead of the start of the third and final at Lord's on Sunday to pay tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers, who died on Friday, July 17, 2026.
Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have paid heartfelt tributes to the late West Indies icon Sir Garfield Sobers, remembering his unparalleled legacy and personal interactions. Both stars expressed their sorrow and highlighted Sobers' immense contribution to the sport, inspiring generations of cricketers.
West Indies Test captain Roston Chase dedicated his team's 90-run victory over Pakistan in the first Test to the late legendary all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, noting the coincidence between his age and the margin of victory.
'Maybe Sobers was upset that he could not touch Gavaskar, and when he came out to bat, he got dismissed off the first ball by me.'
Cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, widely considered the greatest all-rounder in the sport's history, has passed away at the age of 89. Tributes poured in from across the cricketing world, with former India captains Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli expressing their profound sadness and respect for the West Indies icon. The Lanka Premier League will also honour his legacy.
Sobers excelled at many sports, including soccer and basketball, but cricket was his passion. His first memories of the sport were of playing in the road or on the beach, aged eight.
The cricket world paid glorious tribute to West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers who died in Barbados on Friday, describing him as the benchmark of excellence and terming his death an "irreplaceable loss" for the sport.
Debutants Cape Verde have made history by qualifying for the World Cup round of 32 after a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia. This unexpected achievement sets up a clash with defending champions Argentina. Despite a low-quality match, Cape Verde secured second place in their group, sparking celebrations among players and fans, while Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were eliminated.
Anemone Kulczak, the chief arbiter at Norway Chess, believes reigning world champion D Gukesh remains the clear favourite to defend his crown later this year.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has suspended Russia's membership for up to three years due to its failure to comply with a ruling to stop holding events in Russian-controlled Ukrainian territories. This decision follows Russia's continued organisation of chess events in annexed regions, violating a Court of Arbitration for Sport order.
As India's remarkable chess revolution gathers momentum, teenagers Rishabh Kumar and Adhiraj Mitra are ensuring that the country's future on the 64 squares remains brighter than ever.
Norway Chess has consistently innovated to enhance the experience for players and fans, introducing features like the 'confession box' and the Armageddon tie-break to make elite chess more engaging and decisive.
D Gukesh showcased his World Championship preparations by defeating his title challenger, Javokhir Sindarov, and drawing with Wesley So at the Grand Chess Tour's Super Rapid and Blitz event.
The official 26-man squads for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov has won the Candidates Chess Tournament, earning the right to challenge India's D Gukesh for the World Chess Championship title in 2026.
Dutch chess Grandmaster Jan Timman, known as "the best of the West" in a time when chess was dominated by players from the Soviet Union, has died at the age of 74, the Dutch Chess Federation said on Thursday.
Queen of Chess is a moving and powerful sports documentary about the highest-rated woman player in the history of chess. 'For me, it is a deeply personal reminder of where we came from, and what it took to get there,' notes Susan Polgar as she reviews her sister Judit Polgar's Netflix documentary, Queen Of Chess.
The question is no longer whether the war will expand. It has. The next few days will tell us whether the war stabilises around Hormuz or whether the Strait itself becomes the trigger for a far larger rupture. What to watch for over the next 48 hours is simple: Any move by the US toward direct naval control of the Strait; any credible Iranian attempt to disrupt or mine shipping lanes and, critically, whether energy infrastructure in the Gulf continues to be targeted.If those lines are crossed in tandem, the war will no longer be containable within the region.
Viswanathan Anand believes that this year's world championship can happen in Chennai if R Praggnanandhaa wins the Candidates Tournament
Anand and Kasparov last duelled in 2021 at the Zagreb Grand Chess Tour Blitz, where Anand won both their games.
It was in the first game that Anand had outplayed Kasparov and the former world No 1 survived thanks to some unforced error by the Indian ace.
Thirty years to the day, history was repeated as Garry Kasparov defeated Viswanathan Anand in the 10th game of the Clutch Chess Legends contest to win the match with two games to spare.
'Kasparov was lucky to clinch the first game as disaster struck Anand at a close-to-winning position when the Indian ran out of time after "forgetting" to keep an eye on the clock.'
Indian great Viswanathan Anand will revive his iconic rivalry with Russian stalwart Garry Kasparov, while world champion D Gukesh will go up against familiar foe Magnus Carlsen in Clutch Chess exhibition matches come October in St Louis, USA.
World champion India's D. Gukesh stunned World No. 1 Norway's Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round of the Grand Chess Tour in Zagreb, Croatia, on Thursday.
'Yeah, really pleasing, really happy and proud of the way we have all played and how we have represented our country.'
'I see an unjust personal attack by some players, probably due to sheer jealousy.'
The difference in rating does not count much but going by form and records, India's numero uno player R Praggnanandhaa will start as one of the favourites in the third edition of Grand Chess Tour rapid and blitz tournament in Zagreb, Croatia, starting on Wednesday.
Rematch will be primarily enjoyed by chess lovers, but the series is sprinkled with a massive dose of drama and intrigue to keep everyone hooked through all six episodes, observes Norma Godinho.
Ravindra Jadeja continued his renaissance as a batter, delivering his best-ever outing during the recent Test series in England and joining a list of legends
Magnus Carlsen was held to a draw by more than 143,000 people worldwide playing against him in a single, record-setting online game, on Monday.
'I beat the strongest player in the world. Gukesh is in a different situation because Magnus is there'
Dilip Doshi had great success on Indian tracks but it was the tour of Australia in 1980-81 where he picked up 11 wickets (6 in Adelaide and 5 in Melbourne) in more than 150-plus overs on non-responsive pitches.
Magnus Carlsen banged the table while his game against World Champion D Gukesh was still in progress, an act that violated chess conduct rules.
The 18-year-old Gukesh claimed the title by beating China's Ding Liren in Singapore on Thursday.
