The best of the best: 10 most popular cricket players of all time

Virat Kohli

Former cricket players have included many outstanding individuals with incredible skills. Watching a game of cricket might be one of the most thrilling experiences possible. After the ball is in play and the bowlers have sent it at the batters, the real action can begin.

From the sport’s inception, it has attracted some of the world’s most famous players, who have become icons for their contributions to the sport and their communities. Because of its rich history and colorful characters, it has become one of the top sports in India and has become a popular pastime for people of all ages.

Enthusiasts will always bring up legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Imran Khan whenever the sport is discussed. The players below have earned widespread renown for their skills as batters, bowlers, and fielders throughout all three forms of the game —Test, One-Day International, and Twenty-Over.

Many people also bet on the sport for a chance to win real money. A popular question remains which payment methods can I use in India. This is not difficult if you trust quality and proven betting websites. However, betting on cricket with real money requires adequate planning. To increase your chances of winning, consider signing up for Indian MightyTips. On the platform, you can get unadulterated tips, insights, and analysis that can help you win big.

1. Sachin Tendulkar 

Because of his stellar play for his club and country, Sachin was called up to the national squad when he was just 16 years old in 1989. Since then, he’s been heralded as cricket’s all-time greatest batsman.

In July 2007, Sachin became the first cricketer to score 11,000 runs in a Test match. After India’s devastating defeat to Australia in the first Test, Tendulkar hit 154 to help lead his team to a historic triumph in the second. He led the batting averages with 493 runs scored in four test matches.

2. Imran Khan 

Imran Khan is one of the best cricketers Pakistan has ever produced. After guiding the Pakistan national team to a World Cup triumph in 1992 and becoming the country’s first prime minister, Imran Khan’s legacy and impact continue to expand.

The former all-rounder is tied for fourth all-time for most player of the Series honors and second all-time for highest innings stats by a skipper. There was no denying the fact that Imran had dominated Test Cricket in the 1980s. He improved steadily throughout his active years, leaving behind almost two decades of greatness in Pakistan Cricket until he finally retired.

3. Virat Kohli

He is the captain of the Indian national team and captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. Among Kohli’s many honors is the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, presented by the Indian Ministry of Sports. Kohli also received the awards for Top Cricketer in the World, ODI Player of the Year, and Cricketer of the Year from the ICC. His record of success places him among India’s all-time greats.

At the ceremonies for India’s Independence Day, Kohli was presented with the Padma Shri honor. In 2016, when England was touring India, Virat Kohli set a record by averaging over 50 runs in each test. He has also been honored as the International Cricketer of the Year. Virat Kohli is the only active player in the top 10 most popular cricket players of all time.

4. Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram’s records have yet to be broken by any international bowler, and as a test player, he is outstanding. Akram was a trailblazer in both reverse swing and fast bowling. He grabbed 500 wickets in one-day internationals the first time around, making him the most successful seamer in ODI history.

After being named the 1993 Wisden Cricketer of the Year, Wasim remained a popular figure in the sport for a long time. Wasim Akram became the first bowler to take 500 wickets in One-Day Internationals at the 2003 World Cup. Only Wasim has accomplished this feat, scoring four hat tricks in his career.

5. MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a prominent Indian who has captained and led the national team and the Chennai Super Kings to unprecedented success. He was instrumental in moving India’s Test cricket team to the top of the ICC rankings. With MS Dhoni as the captain, India came out on top in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 tournament.

In 2008 and 2009, Dhoni was named the ICC’s ODI Player of the Year, making him the first Indian player to win the honor. In 2009, he was honored with India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri. He also received the “Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna” award. 

6. Javed Miandad

The unconventional cricket coach, commentator, and former player scored 8,832 runs in Test matches and 7,381 runs in Day Internationals throughout his 21-year national career. Only Miandad has played in six different World Cups.

Miandad was the youngest player to ever score a double century in Tests and shared in the glory of leading Pakistan to its first-ever cricket World Cup win in 1992. Miandad was inducted into the PCB’s Hall of Fame and maintained the record for the most consecutive ODI fifties(nine). In One Day Internationals, Miandad has scored the most successive half-centuries.

7. Ravi Shastri 

Despite his efforts, Ravi Shastri doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He was able to stonewall seamlessly in his batting role. He was solid and in charge when he had the ball. A persistent knee ailment brought a terrible end to his story, as he vanished at age 30 while still at the peak of his ability. But, his return as a pundit and coach marked a turning point.

He has been instrumental as a coach and manager in elevating India to the ranks of the world’s elite teams. And since betting is legal in India, his teams have been wagered for different cricket bet prices. Managerially, Shastri was instrumental in remaking India into a global powerhouse because of his ability to get the most out of his players.

8. Kapil Dev

In a home series against Australia in 1979, Kapil Dev got two five-wicket hauls, solidifying his position as a critical component of the Indian cricket side. In a 1979–80 home series against Pakistan, in which he played six tests, he rose to prominence. The Indian team won both of his matches as captain. Kapil Dev has made 3,783 runs at an average of 23.79 in 225 One-Day Internationals for India.

His career best is 175 runs, achieved in a remarkable 138-ball knock against Zimbabwe. There has never been an Indian fast bowler with more test cricket wickets than he does. He won the “Indian Cricketer of the Century” title from Wisden in 2002. In addition, the Indian government has presented him with the Arjuna Award and the Padma Bhushan.

9. Sourav Ganguly 

As a left-handed batsman, Ganguly was a formidable opponent and an excellent bowler. He was widely regarded as a fantastic batting performer in ODIs, having played in around 311 of them and amassing 11,363 runs. He participated in 113 Test Matches, where he amassed 7,212 runs; he captained India in 49 Tests, winning 21.

Sourav Ganguly is one of the most successful Indian test captains ever, with 11 victories in international competition. With his three centuries, he became the first player in ICC Champions Trophy history to accomplish that feat. He has garnered awards such as The Sports Star Person of the Year Award, the CEAT Indian Captain of the Year Award, and the Rammohan Roy Award.

10. Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar scored the first test century and held the record for the most test tons (34) until Sachin Tendulkar surpassed him. Together with his teammates, he won the World Cup in 1983. India defeated West Indies in a test match for the first time thanks to Gavaskar’s 65 and unbeaten 67 in his test debut in Spain in March 1971.

His record-breaking score of 774 runs in his first test series still stands. Gavaskar made his One-Day International debut against England in July 1974 at Headingley, and he smashed 28 in that match. In 1976, 1978, 1979, and 1983, Gavaskar achieved the 1000-test run four times in a calendar year.

Conclusion

Throughout cricket’s 100-year existence, there have been several outstanding players, making it difficult to choose a group of players as the sport’s most famous ten. Nevertheless, the above is a formidable choice. If you’re still wondering, is betting legal in India? Well, you’re probably snoozing because thousands of fans like you stake in the events and games of this sport back to back and win real money. So, join them!

Latest