If there’s one sport everyone likes, it’s cricket. Even people who aren’t into sports can enjoy it. Cricket started in England in the 16th century and has been popular ever since. It’s especially popular in countries like India, Australia, Sri Lanka, England, and Pakistan, and these countries have produced some of the best players.
The game is simple: two teams of 11 players each play on an oval field, and the team with the most runs wins. The most exciting event for cricket fans is the World Cup Championship.
It’s not just the game that people love; the players are a big deal too. Fans follow their favorite cricketers passionately. Many great players have made history with amazing records. Some of the most loved cricketers are Sachin Tendulkar, Ben Stokes, and Kane Williamson. If you’re a cricket fan, you might be curious to know who the top cricketers in the world are. Keep reading to find out!
Take a look at some of the best cricket players in the world and their achievements:
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Matches: 664
Test runs: 15,921
Centuries: 100
Wickets: 201
Sachin Tendulkar, lovingly called the god of cricket, is seen as one of the greatest cricketers ever. He used to be the captain of the Indian cricket team and was famous for his amazing batting. He is the highest run-scorer in international cricket with a record of 34,000 runs, including 100 centuries. This incredible record speaks for itself! He has won many awards for his outstanding skills and has received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. Tendulkar began playing for India in 1989 and retired in 2013. He will always be remembered as one of the top cricketers in India and the world.
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2. M.S. Dhoni
Matches: 772
Test runs: 4,876
Centuries: 16
Wickets: 1
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a former captain of the Indian cricket team and is seen as one of their best captains. He started playing international cricket in 2004 and led the team for over 10 years. Dhoni took India to the top of the ICC test rankings for the first time. Fans admire him for staying calm during games and helping the team in crucial moments. He retired from international cricket in 2020. Dhoni is considered one of the best players in the Indian cricket team.
3. Virat Kohli
Matches: 755
Test runs: 8,676
Centuries: 80
Wickets: 9
Virat Kohli used to be the captain of the Indian cricket team. He is a very talented batsman with many records. Kohli started playing internationally in 2008 and has been one of the best batsmen since then. He is known for being aggressive on the field and for his fitness. He has won many awards, like the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in 2017 and 2018. Fans love him for his fun and lively personality. He is considered the best cricketer on the Indian team today.
4. Jacques Kallis
Matches: 1376
Test runs: 13, 289
Centuries: 62
Wickets: 577
Jacques Kallis has won the most man-of-the-match awards. He is famous for his outstanding records and being a great all-round player. He played his first test match in 1995 against England. Kallis was well-known for his strong defense. He played his last match in 2014. Kallis took over 250 wickets and was also a powerful batsman. He is one of the best cricketers ever.
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5. Sourav Ganguly
Matches: 1212
Test runs: 7,212
Centuries: 38
Wickets: 132
Even after he retired, Sourav Ganguly is famous for being one of the toughest and most ruthless cricket players ever. He now works as a commentator. Ganguly was also one of the most successful cricket captains. He stopped playing international cricket in 2008. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar were two of the best cricketers of their time.
6. Ricky Ponting
Matches: 540
Test runs: 13,387
Centuries: 71
Wickets: 8
Ponting used to be the captain of the Australian cricket team. He bats right-handed and is very quick at fielding. Ponting is known as the second most successful captain in international cricket. He has won 220 matches in all types of cricket. He is also one of only four players to have scored more than 13,000 runs. Ponting has many fans and is considered one of the best Australian cricketers ever.
7. Brian Lara
Matches: 1123
Test runs: 11,953
Centuries: 53
Wickets: 4
Brian Lara is considered one of the best batsmen and cricketers ever. He has many titles and holds the record for the highest score in first-class cricket. Lara started playing test matches in 1990 and his last one-day international was in 2007. He held the record for the most runs scored in a single over for 18 years. He had a very successful cricket career.
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8. Chris Gayle
Matches: 1499
Test runs: 7,214
Centuries: 42
Wickets: 260
Gayle is famous for being the scariest batsman globally. He’s from the West Indies and was the first to score a triple century in test matches, two centuries in one-day internationals (ODIs), and one in Twenty20 games. He played aggressively and hit some of the hardest shots ever recorded. Gayle is considered one of the best cricketers worldwide.
9. Shane Watson
Matches: 1052
Test runs: 3731
Centuries: 14
Wickets: 291
Shane Watson used to play cricket for Australia. He was the team’s captain from 2002 to 2016. He batted right-handed and bowled right-arm fast-medium. Watson was considered the best all-rounder in Twenty20 international matches. Shane Watson is one of the most successful all-rounders in international cricket. In 2016, he was one of just seven cricketers to score 10,000 runs and take 250 wickets in international matches. Shane Watson is definitely one of the best cricketers globally.
10. AB De Villiers
Matches: 1164
Test runs: 8,765
Centuries: 47
Wickets: 9
AB De Villiers, often called ABD, was famous for his adventurous playing style on the cricket field. He started playing for his country in 2004. He’s recognized as one of the best One Day International (ODI) players ever. ABD holds several records, like scoring the fastest century in ODIs for South Africa. He earned the nickname Mr. 360 because of his skill in hitting shots anywhere on the field.
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