Who is the best cricketer in the world?

"Best cricketer in the world" is subjective and can vary depending on personal opinions and current performances. Cricket has seen many exceptional players across different formats (Test, One-Day International, and T20) and positions (batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders), and opinions on the best player can differ based on individual preferences and biases.

Some of the cricketers who have been widely regarded as among the best in the world include:

1-  Sir Don Bradman: (considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time, though he played before the modern era)

  • Test Batting Average: Bradman holds the all-time record for the highest batting average in Test cricket. He averaged 99.94 runs per inning over his Test career, a record that is considered one of the most iconic in the history of cricket.
  • Highest Individual Test Batting Average in a Series: During the 1931-32 Ashes series in Australia, Bradman averaged 201.50 runs per innings, setting a record for the highest individual batting average in a Test series.
  • Most Runs in a Single Test Series: He scored a record 974 runs in the 1930 Ashes series against England, which remains the highest run aggregate in a Test series.
  • Fastest to 1,000 Test Runs: Bradman reached 1,000 Test runs in just five Test matches, which was a record at that time.
  • Triple Centuries: Bradman scored two triple centuries in Test cricket. His highest individual Test score was 334 runs against England in 1930.
  • Centuries in Consecutive Test Innings: He scored centuries in six consecutive Test innings, a record that stood for many years.
  • Captaincy Success: As the captain of the Australian cricket team, Bradman led his side to victory in several Ashes series and other Test series.
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Century: In a 1999 poll conducted by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, Bradman was named the Cricketer of the Century, cementing his status as the greatest cricketer of all time.
  • Career Runs: Bradman scored a total of 6,996 runs in 52 Test matches, including 29 centuries and 13 fifties.
  • Influence on the Game: Bradman's exceptional batting technique and his meticulous approach to the game have had a lasting impact on the way cricket is played and coached.

2-  Sachin Tendulkar :(holds numerous batting records and is often referred to as the "Little Master")

  • Most Runs in International Cricket: Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs scored in international cricket, with over 34,000 runs across formats (Test matches, One Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals).
  • Most Centuries in International Cricket: He has scored 100 international centuries (ODIs and Tests combined), a record that may stand for a long time.
  • First Batsman to Score a Double Century in ODIs: Tendulkar was the first cricketer to score a double century in a One Day International, achieving this feat against South Africa in 2010.
  • Most Runs in a Calendar Year: He scored the most runs in a calendar year in international cricket in 1998 and 2010.
  • Leading Run-scorer in World Cups: Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer in the history of ICC Cricket World Cups, with over 2,200 runs.
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Year: He was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1997.
  • Bharat Ratna: In 2014, Tendulkar became the first and only cricketer to receive India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
  • Most Test Centuries: He held the record for the most Test centuries (100) until his retirement.
  • First Batsman to Score 200 in a Test Innings: Tendulkar was the first batsman to score a double century in Test cricket, achieving this milestone against South Africa in 2010.
  • Longest International Career: He had an international cricket career that spanned over 24 years, from 1989 to 2013.

3-  Virat Kohli:(known for his prolific run-scoring and aggressive batting)

  • Fastest to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 11,000 runs in ODIs: Kohli is the fastest batsman to reach these milestones in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
  • Most centuries in ODIs: He holds the record for the most centuries in ODIs, with several of them being double centuries.
  • ICC Awards: Kohli has received numerous ICC awards, including the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year multiple times.
  • Leading run-scorer for India: He is one of India's all-time leading run-scorers in ODIs and Tests.
  • Test captaincy achievements: Under his captaincy, the Indian cricket team achieved a historic Test series win in Australia during the 2018-19 season.
  • Consistent Test Batsman: Kohli has consistently been ranked among the top Test batsmen in the ICC rankings.
  • Fastest century by an Indian in ODIs: He holds the record for the fastest century by an Indian in ODIs, which he achieved in just 52 balls.
  • Numerous records in T20Is: Kohli has also set several records in T20 International cricket, including being the fastest to reach 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 runs in the format.
  • Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: He has been named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World multiple times.
  • Multiple IPL records: Kohli has several records in the Indian Premier League (IPL), including the most runs in a single season and the most runs overall in IPL history.

4-  Steve Smith:

(acknowledged for his unorthodox batting style and consistency)

  • Prolific Test Batsman: Steve Smith is widely regarded as one of the best Test batsmen in the world. He has consistently ranked among the top Test batsmen in the ICC rankings.
  • Bradmanesque Run-Scoring: His batting style and technique have drawn comparisons to the legendary Sir Donald Bradman. He has been noted for his ability to accumulate runs at a remarkable pace.
  • ICC Cricketer of the Year: Smith has been named the ICC Cricketer of the Year multiple times, recognizing his outstanding performances in international cricket.
  • Fastest Australian to 7,000 Test Runs: Smith reached the milestone of 7,000 Test runs in fewer innings than any other Australian cricketer.
  • Ashes Success: He has played a pivotal role in Australia's Ashes series victories, both at home and away, and has been a consistent performer in Ashes contests against England.
  • Record-Breaking Run in the 2019 Ashes: In the 2019 Ashes series in England, Smith scored over 700 runs, becoming the highest run-scorer in a single Ashes series in this century.
  • Captaincy: Smith has served as the captain of the Australian cricket team in both Test and limited-overs formats.
  • Suspension and Comeback: He faced a suspension from international cricket in 2018 due to his involvement in a ball-tampering scandal but made a successful comeback to the Australian team.

5-  Kane Williamson 

(respected for his elegant batting and leadership skills)

  • Leading Run-scorer for New Zealand: Kane Williamson is the leading run-scorer for the New Zealand cricket team in Test matches.
  • Most Centuries for New Zealand: He holds the record for the most centuries by a New Zealand batsman in Test cricket.
  • Consistent ODI Batsman: Williamson has consistently been one of the leading run-scorers for New Zealand in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and has numerous centuries to his name in the format.
  • ICC Awards: He has been nominated for and received various ICC awards, including the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year.
  • Captaincy Achievements: Under his captaincy, New Zealand reached the final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final in 2021.
  • ICC Test Rankings: Kane Williamson has frequently been ranked among the top Test batsmen in the ICC Test rankings.
  • Wisden Cricketer of the Year: Williamson was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2016.
  • Fastest New Zealand Player to Reach 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 Runs in ODIs: He achieved these milestones in fewer innings than any other New Zealand player in ODIs.

6-  Joe Root:

  • Fastest to 6,000, 7,000, and 8,000 Test runs: Joe Root is one of the fastest batsmen to reach milestones in Test cricket. He achieved 6,000, 7,000, and 8,000 Test runs in fewer innings than most other batsmen.
  • Most Test centuries as an England captain: Root holds the record for the most Test centuries as the captain of the England cricket team.
  • Most Test runs in a calendar year by an English batsman: In 2015, Root scored the highest number of Test runs in a single calendar year by an English batsman.
  • Double centuries in Tests: Joe Root has scored several double centuries in Test matches, making him one of England's premier Test batsmen.
  • Leading run-scorer for England: He has consistently been one of the leading run-scorers for the England cricket team in all formats of the game.
  • ICC Awards: Joe Root has been nominated for and received various ICC awards for his outstanding performances in international cricket.

7-  Babar Azam:

  • Fastest to 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals: Babar Azam reached 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals in just 26 innings, making him the fastest Pakistani batsman to achieve this milestone at that time.
  • Fastest to 1,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs): Babar Azam also achieved the milestone of 1,000 runs in ODIs in just 21 innings, which was a record for the fastest to 1,000 runs in ODIs for Pakistan.
  • No. 1 T20I batsman: Babar Azam has consistently been ranked as one of the top T20I batsmen in the world and has reached the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I rankings for batsmen.
  • ODI captaincy: As of my last knowledge update, Babar Azam was the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team in ODIs and T20Is.
  • Centuries in all three formats: Babar Azam has scored centuries in all three formats of international cricket (Test, ODI, and T20I), showcasing his versatility as a batsman.