Best cricket player in the world for all the formats – ODI, T20I and Test

Cricket is a sport that is enjoyed across the globe. There are certain players who grab the attention of fans more than others. Whether it be for their ball-striking, pace bowling or ability in the field, the best cricket players in the world regularly win games almost by themselves. 

On this page, we will discuss the leading players in the world of cricket today. Our guide will cover all international formats of the game, one day, T20 and Test. So, if you are looking to learn more about the top cricketing talents from around the globe that will play in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, be sure to keep reading. 

ODI – batting: who is the best cricket player in the world

When it comes to One-Day Internationals, there are certain batsmen who regularly score big runs. Below, we will take a look at the current best ODI batters in the world, with our list featuring players from around the world:

1. Babar Azam

• Age: 28
• Country: Pakistan
• Team: Peshawar Zalmi
• Debut: 2015
• Role: Batsman
• Batting style: Elegant

Babar Azam is the captain of Pakistan in all formats, while being known as one of the leading batsmen in the game. He is one of the most successful T20I captains in history, with 40+ wins. Azam has played for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League, while he won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. 

2. Shubman Gill

• Age: 24
• Country: India
• Team: Gujarat Titans
• Debut: 2019
• Role: Opening batsman
• Batting style: Aggressive

Gil has the world at his feet. Still aged just 24, he is the youngest player to score an ODI double century, while also having the highest T20I score by an Indian player. Gil has a twin sister, with his father having created a cricket field for Shubman to practise on when he was younger. Gil is often given short cricket betting odds to be the highest run scorer. 

3. Rassie Van Der Dussen

• Age: 34
• Country: South Africa
• Team: Guateng
• Debut: 2018
• Role: Top-order batsman
• Batting style: Big hitter

South Africa Van Der Dussen first played on the international scene in 2018, before making his Test debut a year later against England. That year, he was named Men’s Newcomer of the Year in South Africa. Van Der Dussen also made his IPL debut in 2022, playing for the Rajasthan Royals. 

4. Imam-ul-Haq

• Age: 27
• Country: Pakistan
• Team: Balochistan
• Debut: 2017
• Role: Top order batsman
• Batting style: Elegant

The second Pakistani player to feature in our list is Imam-ul-Haq. He became the second player to score an ODI century on debut. ul-Haq played for Somerset in the English County Championship in 2022, having made his international Test debut in 2018 against Ireland. ul-Haq is also the nephew of Inzamam ul-Haq. 

5. Harry Tector

• Age: 23
• Country: Ireland
• Team: Gloucestershire
• Debut: 2023
• Role: Middle order batsman
• Batting style: Big hitter

Having impressed for Ireland at the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, Tector would make his Test debut in 2019. He scored his first ODI century against New Zealand in 2022, while also being the first Irish player to score a half century on Test debut. Tector represented Gloucestershire in the County Championship in 2023. 

6. David Warner

• Age: 36
• Country: Australia
• Team: N/A
• Debut: 2009
• Role: Opening batsman
• Batting style: Aggressive

Aussie Warner has long been one of the best batsmen in the game. Having made his international debut in 2009, Warner has scored over 8,000 Test runs for Australia. Warner has also made a significant impact in the IPL, playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2014-2021. Stuart Broad is one of the few bowlers to get the better of Warner, having dismissed him 17 times in Test matches. 

7. Quinton de Kock

• Age: 30
• Country: South Africa
• Team: Seattle Orcas
• Debut: 2012
• Role: Wicket keeper batsman
• Batting style: Attacking

Quinton de Kock is the former captain of South Africa in all formats. The left-handed batsman made his international debut in 2012, with de Kock also being well-known for his skills behind the stumps. The 30-year-old has played in the IPL in the past, most recently for Mumbai Indians in 2021. 

8. Virat Kohli

• Age: 34
• Country: India
• Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore
• Debut: 2008
• Role: Top order batsman
• Batting style: Dominant

No list would be complete without Virat Kohli, with the Indian legend having made his international debut back in 2008. Having scored over 8,000 Test runs, with a top score of 254 not out, Kohli is one of just four cricketers to have played over 500 games for India. He was named Male Cricketer of the Decade in 2020, with Kohli having played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL since 2008. 

9. Heinrich Klaasen

• Age: 32
• Country: South Africa
• Team: Seattle Orcas/Oval Invincibles
• Debut: 2018
• Role: Wicket keeper batsman
• Batting style: Clean hitter

Klaasen is a limited overs specialist, with the South African having performed well on the international stage, as well as in the IPL, The Hundred and Major League Cricket. Against the West Indies in March 2023, Klaasen scored a century from just 54 balls. Klaasen has played for the Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL to date too.

10. Rohit Sharma

• Age: 36
• Country: India
• Team: Mumbai Indians
• Debut: 2007
• Role: Opening batsman
• Batting style: Elegant

Sharma is the current captain of India in all formats of the game. At 36, the opening batsman has over 10,000 ODI runs, while he has also helped the Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles. Sharma also holds the record for the highest ODI score, at 264, while also being the only player to have scored three double ODI centuries. India won the Asia Cup in 2019 under the captaincy of Sharma.

Best men’s ODI bowling players

You will also find that there are certain bowlers who consistently take crucial wickets. Whether it be a pace bowler or someone who bowls off-spin, the players below strike fear into the hearts of even the very best batsmen:

Best men’s ODI batsmen

Similarly, you will come across certain batsmen who consistently score crucial runs. Whether it be an aggressive opener or a dependable middle-order player, these are the players at top of their game.

Best men’s ODI all-rounder players

Some players just have it all! As well as scoring runs with the bat, some also have the ability to take wickets through their bowling ability. Below, we have outlined the top ODI all-rounders playing the game today:

1. Shakib Al Hasan
2. Mohammad Nabi
3. Sikandar Raza
4. Rashid Khan
5. Assad Vala
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Zeeshan Maqsood
8. Mehedi Hasan
9. Mitchell Santner
10. Chris Woakes

ODI all-time best cricket players in the world

With cricket having been played for over a century, there are some players who caught the eye perhaps even before you were born. You will likely have heard of the names below, whether it be for their batting or bowling.

Top 5 all-time ODI batting rankings

The batsmen below have all made their name through run scoring. Scoring thousands between them in ODI cricket during their careers, the likes of Richards, Abbas, Chappell, Gower and Jones have cemented their place in the record books:

1. Viv Richards
2. Zaheer Abbas
3. Greg Chappell
4. David Gower
5. Dean Jones

Top 5 all-time ODI bowling rankings

It is also enjoyable to look at the best ODI bowlers of all time. Most are seamers, with Muttiah Muralidaran breaking the mould as an off spinner. 

1. Joel Garner
2. Richard Hadlee
3. Shaun Pollock
4. Muttiah Muralidaran
5. Glenn McGrath

Top 5 all-time ODI all-rounder rankings

All-rounders is not a role that began over recent years. As you will see from the list below, selected players have delivered with both the bat and ball over the last 50 years:

1. Kapil Dev
2. Greg Chappell
3. Andrew Flintoff
4. Viv Richards
5. Lance Klusener

Best men’s test batting players

Test match batting is different from both ODI and T20 games. Some players are perfectly suited to this format of the game, with the following being among the top Test scorers in history:

Best men’s test bowling players

Similarly, Test match bowling is far from easy. Bowlers will often go long spells without a wicket. However, the players below generally got the better of their opponents, sending them back to the pavilion through their deliveries:

Best men’s test all-round players

Having a player who can deliver with bat and ball is a selector’s dream, especially in Test cricket. The list below shows the leading all-rounders from Test cricket:

1. Ravindra Jadeja
2. Ravichandran Ashwin
3. Shakib Al Hasan
4. Ben Stokes
5. Akshar Patel
6. Joe Root
7. Jason Holder
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Kyle Mayers
10. Chris Woakes

Test all-time best cricket players in the world

Test cricket has long been a popular format of the game. Many of you will have your favourites from years gone by. Below, we take a closer look at the all-time best Test batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders: 

Top 5 all-time Test batting rankings

The players below are synonymous with Test cricket, scoring tens of thousands of runs between them during their illustrious careers. If you are cricket fan, you will certainly have heard of the players below at some point:

1. Don Bradman
2. Steve Smith
3. Len Hutton
4. Jack Hobbs
5. Ricky Ponting

Top 5 all-time Test bowling rankings

The bowlers listed below took wicket after wicket during their Test careers and were among the most feared by batsmen: 

1. Sydney Barnes
2. George Lohmann
3. Imran Khan
4. Muttiah Muraliidaran
5. Pat Cummins

Top 5 all-time Test all-rounder rankings

Some of the best cricket players of all-time have been all-rounders. The players ranked below, entertained fans with their ability with both bat and ball:

1. Garry Sobers
2. Ian Botham
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Keith Miller
5. Richie Benaud

Best men’s T20I batting players

The aim of T20 cricket is to score as many runs within the 20 overs as possible. As such, regularly finding the boundary is a must. The following players have dominated the scene in recent times, helping their domestic and international teams to succeed along the way:

Best men’s T20I bowling players

Wicket-taking in T20 cricket is crucial. It can slow the run rate of a team rapidly, while also ensuring that tailenders take to the field as quickly as possible. In terms of T20 bowlers, the names below are currently the best:

Best men’s T20I all-round players

As is the case with Test and ODI cricket, having an accomplished all-rounder is also very useful in T20 games. If you see one of the players listed below in a team’s lineup, it could  be a long day for the opposition:

1. Shakib Al Hasan
2. Hardik Pandya
3. Mohammad Nabi
4. Aiden Markram
5. Marcus Stoinis
6. Shadab Khan
7. Wanindu Hasaranga
8. J.J. Smit
9. Sikandar Raza
10. David Wiese

T20I all-time best cricket players in the world

T20 cricket began in 2004, with the first international game having taken place between England and New Zealand. Since then, this format of cricket has exploded, with the players below having been among the best over the years:

Top 5 all-time T20I batting rankings

Scoring runs quickly is second nature to the players below, with all having fired a large number of fours and sixes for their international teams: 

1. Dawid Malan
2. Suryakumar Yadav
3. Aaron Finch
4. Virat Kohli
5. Babar Azam

Top 5 all-time T20I bowling rankings

Meanwhile, bowlers often have a hard time of things with T20 cricket, given the emphasis on run-scoring. However, some are more than up for the challenge, with the bowlers below having taken crucial wickets on the international stage in years gone by:

1. Umar Gul
2. Samuel Badree
3. Daniel Vettori
4. Tabraiz Shamsi
5. Sunil Narine

Top 5 all-time T20I all-rounder rankings

All-rounders are also prominent in T20 internationals, often winning games almost single-handedly because of their talents with the bat and ball. If you have been following T20 cricket for some time, you will likely have seen the players below:

1. Shane Watson
2. Shahid Afridi
3. Shakib Al Hasan
4. Glenn Maxwell
5. Yuvraj Singh

Who is the best cricket captain?

The likes of Ricky Ponting, MS Dohni, Brendon McCullum, Souvrav Ganguly and Clive Lloyd have all achieved great success as captains. Captains make key decisions both on and off the field, including positions, declarations and bowler selections. Today, it is difficult to look past Rohit Sharma. Sharma is the captain of the Indian team in all formats, while also being one of the best batsmen of his generation. 

Who is the best batsman in the world?

It is tricky to give just one name when it comes to the best batsman in the world. This is because it largely depends on the format. Pakistan’s Babar Azam is currently no.1 in the ICC ODI rankings, while New Zealand’s Kane Williamson is the best Test batsman on paper. When it comes to T20 internationals, India’s Suryakumar Yadav tops the rankings. 

Who is the world’s best bowler?

When you think of bowling, there are a handful of names that spring to mind when you think about bails flying. England’s James Anderson is still going strong is closing in on 700 Test wickets, while Australian spinner Nathan Lyon continues to be a menace to batsmen across the globe. Elsewhere, Mohammed Siraj is the no.1 ranked ODI bowler, with his career best being 7/36 vs New Zealand in 2023. 

Who is the best cricket player in the UK?

The UK is one of the hotbeds of talent, with England, Ireland and Scotland all competing on the international stage. The best players come from England though, such as Joe Root, James Anderson and Jonny Bairstow. Meanwhile, Harry Brook is the new kid on the block to look out for, with the batsman having made his Test debut for England in 2022. 

Who is the best cricket player in India?

India has long produced some of the leading cricketers across the globe. Things are no different today, with Virat Kohli still being regarded as one of the best batsmen around. However, the Indian team also features the likes of Rohit Sharma.

Who is known as the father of cricket?

This is the nickname given to W.G. Grace, an Englishman who played a major role in the development of cricket. Born in 1848, Grace was an amateur player, competing in first-class cricket for 44 seasons. While being a controversial figure at times, given his moneymaking and gamesmanship, Grace was way ahead of his time, especially when it came to his batting skills. 

Who is the second god of cricket?

Sunil Gavaskar is often referred to as the “second god of cricket” and the “little master”. The legendary batsman and current commentator made his Test debut for India in 1971, while going on to score over 10,000 runs in this format of the game during his career. Gavaskar took just a single wicket in Tests for India, coming from 380 balls bowled. Now in his 70’s, Gavaskar retired from cricket in 1987.  

Who is the no 1 batsman in the IPL?

Indian legend Virat Kohli is the only player in the history of the Indian Premier League to score over 6,000 runs. His average sits at over 37, with very few players having a better average, such as David Warner and AB de Villiers.

What is the best cricket team in the world?

It is difficult to give just a single best team, given the different formats of cricket that are played today. However, on the international scene, India are right up there. The Men in Blue currently top both the Test and ODI ICC Team rankings, ahead of the likes of Australia and England. 

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