Cricket has always been more than just a sport – it’s a passion that brings people together across the globe.
When we talk about the most popular cricketer in the world of all time, we’re looking at players who didn’t just play well, but who touched millions of hearts with their amazing skills and unforgettable moments.
The most famous cricketers in the world have created history with their bats and balls.
They’ve broken records, won hearts, and inspired new generations to pick up a cricket bat. From Sachin Tendulkar’s magical batting to MS Dhoni’s cool captaincy, these legends have made cricket what it is today.
These cricket superstars come from different countries and different times, but they all share one thing – they’ve made cricket fans around the world fall in love with the game.
Whether it’s Don Bradman’s incredible average or Virat Kohli’s aggressive style, each player has brought something special to cricket.
Contents
- 1 The Most Popular Cricketer in the World of All Time
- 1.1 Top 13 Famous Cricketers In The World
- 1.2 Sachin Tendulkar
- 1.3 Sir Don Bradman
- 1.4 Virat Kohli
- 1.5 Brian Lara
- 1.6 Ricky Ponting
- 1.7 MS Dhoni
- 1.8 Sir Garfield Sobers
- 1.9 Shane Warne
- 1.10 Jacques Kallis
- 1.11 Kumar Sangakkara
- 1.12 Sir Viv Richards
- 1.13 Sunil Gavaskar
- 1.14 Rohit Sharma
- 1.15 What Makes These Players Famous?
- 1.16 Also Read This:
- 1.17 Conclusion: Sachin Tendulkar Is The Most Famous Cricketer In The World!
- 1.18 FAQs:
The Most Popular Cricketer in the World of All Time
In this updated 2025 list, we’ll explore the stories, records, and achievements of these 13 cricket legends.
You’ll learn what made them so popular, their biggest moments, and why cricket fans still talk about them today. Get ready to dive into the amazing world of cricket’s biggest stars!
Top 13 Famous Cricketers In The World
Here’s a quick look at the greatest cricket legends who have ruled the hearts of fans worldwide:
| Name | Country | Age | Role | Total Matches | Highest Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 51 | Batsman | 664 | 248 (Test) |
| Sir Don Bradman | Australia | 92 (Passed Away) | Batsman | 52 | 334 (Test) |
| Virat Kohli | India | 35 | Batsman | 500+ | 254 (Test) |
| Brian Lara | West Indies | 55 | Batsman | 430 | 400 (Test) |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 49 | Batsman | 560 | 257 (Test) |
| MS Dhoni | India | 43 | Wicketkeeper/Batsman | 538 | 224 (Test) |
| Sir Garfield Sobers | West Indies | 88 | All-rounder | 93 | 365 (Test) |
| Shane Warne | Australia | 52 (Passed Away) | Bowler | 339 | 99 (Test) |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 48 | All-rounder | 519 | 224 (Test) |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 46 | Wicketkeeper/Batsman | 594 | 319 (Test) |
| Sir Viv Richards | West Indies | 72 | Batsman | 507 (FC) | 291 (Test) |
| Sunil Gavaskar | India | 75 | Batsman | 348 (FC) | 236 (Test) |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 36 | Batsman | 450+ | 212 (Test) |
Sachin Tendulkar
The God of Cricket – that’s what people call Sachin Tendulkar, and for good reason! He’s probably the most loved cricketer in the world.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 248 vs Bangladesh (2004) |
| ODI | 200 vs South Africa (2010) |
| T20 | 71 vs South Africa (2006) |
| IPL | 100 vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala (2011) |
Key Achievements:
- First player to score 200 runs in an ODI match
- Scored 100 international centuries (amazing!)
- Most runs in Test cricket: 15,921 runs
- Most runs in ODI cricket: 18,426 runs
- Won India’s highest award: Bharat Ratna
Sachin played for 24 years and never stopped amazing fans. His journey from a young boy in Mumbai to becoming a cricket legend inspired millions of kids to start playing cricket.
Sir Don Bradman
The Don is still considered the greatest batsman ever because of his incredible average of 99.94 in Test cricket.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 334 vs England (1930) |
| ODI | Did not play ODIs |
| T20 | Did not play T20s |
| IPL | Did not play IPL |
Why He’s Special:
- His batting average of 99.94 is unbeatable
- Scored 334 runs in a single Test match
- Revolutionary batting techniques that cricketers still study today
- Played during the 1930s and 1940s, when cricket was very different
Even though he played many years ago, coaches and players still talk about Don Bradman’s techniques and try to learn from him.
Virat Kohli
The modern cricket superstar who’s known for his aggressive style and incredible fitness.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 254 vs South Africa (2019) |
| ODI | 183 vs Pakistan (2012) |
| T20 | 122 vs Afghanistan (2022) |
| IPL | 113 vs Rajasthan Royals (2024) |
What Makes Virat Special:
- Fastest to reach 8,000, 9,000, 11,000, and 12,000 ODI runs
- Amazing fitness and dedication
- Aggressive captaincy style
- Huge social media following with millions of fans
- Won Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Padma Shri awards
- His choice of food and drinking water, check out this detailed guide about Virat Kohli water price, and you will be shocked to see.
Virat’s passion for cricket and his never-give-up attitude make him a role model for young players everywhere.
Brian Lara
The stylish left-handed batsman from the West Indies holds an incredible record.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 400 vs England (2004) |
| ODI | 169 vs Sri Lanka (1995) |
| T20 | 37 vs South Africa (2007) |
| IPL | Did not play IPL |
Amazing Records:
- Highest individual score in Test cricket: 400 not out
- Beautiful and artistic batting style
- Won the Order of Australia award
- ICC Hall of Fame member
Brian Lara’s 400 not out is one of cricket’s most amazing achievements that might never be broken.
Ricky Ponting
Australia’s most successful captain, who led the team during their golden period.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 257 vs India (2003) |
| ODI | 164 vs South Africa (2006) |
| T20 | 98 vs New Zealand (2005) |
| IPL | 72 vs Delhi Daredevils (2013) |
Leadership Achievements:
- Led Australia to multiple World Cup victories
- Won the Allan Border Medal
- ICC Player of the Year
- Known for his fierce competitive spirit
Ricky’s leadership helped Australia become the most dominant cricket team in the world for many years.
MS Dhoni
Captain Cool – the calmest captain cricket has ever seen!
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 224 vs Australia (2013) |
| ODI | 183 vs Sri Lanka (2005) |
| T20 | 56 vs England (2017) |
| IPL | 84* vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2019) |
Why Fans Love Him:
- Never panics under pressure
- Led India to 2007 T20 World Cup victory
- Led India to 2011 ODI World Cup victory
- Amazing wicket-keeping skills
- Most successful IPL captain with Chennai Super Kings
MS Dhoni’s cool nature and smart thinking made him one of India’s greatest captains ever.
Sir Garfield Sobers
The greatest all-rounder in cricket history from the West Indies.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 365 vs Pakistan (1958) |
| ODI | Did not play ODIs |
| T20 | Did not play T20s |
| IPL | Did not play IPL |
All-Round Excellence:
- Could bat, bowl, and field at the highest level
- Scored 365 runs in a single Test innings
- ICC Cricket Hall of Fame member
- Revolutionary player who changed how cricket was played
Sobers showed the world that a player could be excellent at everything in cricket.
Shane Warne
The spin bowling legend who made spin bowling exciting and dangerous.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 8/71 vs England (1994) |
| ODI | 5/33 vs West Indies (1996) |
| T20 | 4/21 vs New Zealand (2005) |
| IPL | 4/21 vs Deccan Chargers (2008) |
Spin Bowling Magic:
- Revolutionized spin bowling
- 708 Test wickets in his career
- Charismatic personality on and off the field
- A great cricket commentator after retirement
Shane Warne made spin bowling exciting and entertaining for cricket fans around the world.
Jacques Kallis
South Africa’s perfect all-rounder who could do everything well.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 224 vs Sri Lanka (2012) |
| ODI | 139 vs West Indies (1998) |
| T20 | 73 vs Zimbabwe (2010) |
| IPL | 89 vs Chennai Super Kings (2010) |
All-Round Stats:
- Over 13,000 Test runs and 292 Test wickets
- ICC Player of the Year award winner
- Consistent performer in all formats
- ICC Hall of Fame member
Jacques Kallis proved that you can be world-class at both batting and bowling.
Kumar Sangakkara
Sri Lanka’s elegant left-handed batsman and excellent wicket-keeper.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 319 vs Bangladesh (2014) |
| ODI | 169 vs South Africa (2013) |
| T20 | 78 vs India (2009) |
| IPL | 94 vs Mumbai Indians (2011) |
Elegant Achievements:
- Most ODI runs by a Sri Lankan
- Beautiful and smooth batting style
- ICC Cricketer of the Year
- Great cricket commentator today
Sangakkara’s elegant style made batting look easy and beautiful.
Sir Viv Richards
The most feared batsman of the 1970s and 1980s from the West Indies.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 291 vs England (1976) |
| ODI | Fastest to 1,000 ODI runs (21 innings) |
| T20 | Did not play T20s |
| IPL | Did not play IPL |
Aggressive Style:
- Never wore a helmet against fast bowlers
- Aggressive and fearless batting
- Helped West Indies win back-to-back World Cups (1975, 1979)
- Intimidated bowlers with his presence
Viv Richards was so aggressive and confident that bowlers were scared to bowl to him!
Sunil Gavaskar
India’s Little Master, who was a technique expert against fast bowling.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 236* vs West Indies (1983) |
| ODI | 103 vs New Zealand |
| T20 | Did not play T20s |
Technical Mastery:
- First batsman to score 10,000 Test runs
- Perfect technique against fast bowlers
- 34 Test centuries
- Helped establish India as a strong cricket nation
Gavaskar showed that proper technique and patience could beat even the fastest bowlers.
Rohit Sharma
India’s Hitman, who is known for his stylish batting and big scores.
| Format | Best Performance |
|---|---|
| Test | 212 vs South Africa (2019) |
| ODI | 264 vs Sri Lanka (2014) |
| T20 | 121* vs Afghanistan (2024) |
| IPL | 109 vs KKR (2012) |
Big Hitting Ability:
- Multiple double centuries in ODIs
- Calm and composed captaincy style
- Most successful IPL captain with the Mumbai Indians
- Amazing six-hitting ability
Rohit’s ability to score big hundreds makes him one of the most dangerous batsmen today.
What Makes These Players Famous?
Record-breaking Performances
These cricket legends didn’t just play well – they broke records that seemed impossible! When Sachin Tendulkar scored the first-ever 200 in an ODI, the whole cricket world was amazed. Don Bradman’s average of 99.94 is so good that no one has come close to it even today.
Cultural Impact
Cricket is more than a sport in many countries – it’s like a religion! In India, players like Sachin and Dhoni are treated like gods. They bring people together and make everyone proud of their country.
Charisma And Personality
The most loved cricketers have special personalities that fans connect with. Virat Kohli’s aggressive style, MS Dhoni’s calmness, and Shane Warne’s fun personality made them superstars both on and off the field.
Awards And Recognition
All these players have won important awards that show how good they were:
- ICC Player of the Year awards
- National honors like the Bharat Ratna and Padma awards
- Hall of Fame memberships
- Recognition from cricket boards worldwide
Also Read This:
- Richest Cricketer In The World
- Youngest Cricketer in India
Conclusion: Sachin Tendulkar Is The Most Famous Cricketer In The World!
After looking at all these amazing cricket legends, one player stands above all others – Sachin Tendulkar.
His 24-year career, 100 international centuries, and the love of billions of fans make him the most famous cricketer in the world.
But every player on this list has made cricket better and more exciting.
From Don Bradman’s perfection to Virat Kohli’s passion, each legend has given cricket fans unforgettable memories.
These 13 cricket superstars have inspired millions of kids to start playing cricket.
They’ve shown that with hard work, dedication, and talent, anyone can become great.
As cricket continues to grow around the world, the legacy of these legends will keep inspiring future generations.
Cricket fans will always remember these players for making the game beautiful, exciting, and meaningful.
They’re not just cricketers – they’re heroes who brought joy to millions of people worldwide!
FAQs:
- Who has scored the most runs in international cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most runs in international cricket with 34,357 runs across all formats. This incredible achievement makes him the highest run-scorer in cricket history.
- Which cricketer has the highest batting average in Test cricket?
Sir Don Bradman of Australia has the highest Test batting average of 99.94. This average is so amazing that no other batsman has come close to it, making it one of cricket’s most unbreakable records.
- Who has taken the most wickets in international cricket?
Muttiah Muralitharan from Sri Lanka has taken the most wickets in international cricket with 1,347 wickets across all formats. He was a spin bowling legend who could turn the ball in amazing ways.
- Who is considered the best all-rounder in cricket history?
Jacques Kallis from South Africa is considered the greatest all-rounder because of his exceptional performance with both bat and ball. He scored over 13,000 Test runs and took 292 Test wickets, showing perfect balance in all skills.
