Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli leads the list of players with the most “Man of the Series” awards in international cricket. Notably, he is also the only active player among the top ten.
The award recognizes a player’s consistent excellence over a series, whether in Test matches, ODIs, or T20Is. India has three players featured in this list, showcasing its long-standing ability to produce star cricketers.
Top 10 Players with the Most Man of the Series
| Rank | Name | Country | Matches | Series | Man of the Series | Tests | ODIs | T20Is |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | 532 | 161 | 21 | 3 | 11 | 7 |
| 2 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 664 | 183 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 0 |
| 3 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 443 | 160 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| 4 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 519 | 148 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | David Warner | Australia | 383 | 126 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 586 | 176 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 0 |
| 7 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 483 | 141 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| 8 | Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 281 | 102 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 423 | 107 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| 10 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | West Indies | 454 | 136 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
1. Virat Kohli: 21 Man of the Series Awards
Virat Kohli, often called the “King of Cricket,” is known globally for his incredible batting skills and ability to turn games around. Kohli has won the “Man of the Series” award 21 times across all formats 3 times in Tests, 11 times in ODIs, and 7 times in T20Is.
Kohli has an impressive 80 international centuries and 140 half-centuries, with 50 of those centuries in ODIs. He has scored nearly 14,000 ODI runs with an average of 58.34. Kohli also has the second-most “Man of the Series” awards in ODIs (11), just behind Sachin Tendulkar. He is expected to continue improving this record as he plays in the ODI and Test formats.
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2. Sachin Tendulkar: 20 Man of the Series Awards
Before Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar was India’s biggest cricket icon. Debuting in the 1980s, Tendulkar was known for his consistency, playing at the highest level for over 20 years. He won 20 “Man of the Series” awards, including five in Tests and 15 in ODIs.
Tendulkar is the only cricketer to score 100 international centuries and 164 half-centuries. He holds the record for most ODI centuries (49) and has over 18,000 ODI runs in 463 matches, along with nearly 16,000 runs in Test cricket across 200 matches.
3. Shakib Al Hasan: 17 Man of the Series Awards
Bangladesh’s all-time leading player, Shakib Al Hasan, ranks third on the list with 17 “Man of the Series” awards 5 in Tests, 7 in ODIs, and 5 in T20Is. Shakib made his international debut in 2006 and has been consistently delivering across formats.
In Tests, Shakib has scored over 4,500 runs and taken 237 wickets. He has 9 centuries and more than 300 wickets in ODIs. In T20Is, Shakib has over 2,500 runs and 149 wickets in 129 matches.
4. Jacques Kallis: 15 Man of the Series Awards
Jacques Kallis, a South African legend, was an outstanding all-rounder, performing exceptionally well for more than 18 years. Kallis won 15 “Man of the Series” awards, with 9 coming in ODIs and 6 in Tests.
Kallis played 519 matches in his career, amassing over 12,000 ODI runs and 272 wickets. In Test cricket, he scored over 13,000 runs and took 273 wickets. He also holds the record for the most “Player of the Match” awards in Test cricket (23).
5. David Warner: 12 Man of the Series Awards
David Warner made an immediate impact on the Australian team, becoming an essential part of the top order. Warner retired from international cricket in 2024, with 12 “Man of the Series” awards—5 each in ODIs and T20Is, and 3 in Tests.
Warner debuted in 2009, excelling in both ODIs and T20Is. He scored 22 ODI centuries, 26 Test centuries, and maintained averages of 45.30 in ODIs and 33.43 in T20Is.
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