Here we are discussing the top 10 Greatest batsmen of all time. Well, it’s quite an interesting debate because many world-class batsmen ruled for so many years in their respective eras. But here we will discuss the top 10 greatest batsmen of all time based on their stats and their impact on the game.
The list of the top 10 greatest batsmen of all time is given below.
10. Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
Inzaman-ul -haq is a former Pakistani star batsman and captain known as inzi and is regarded as one of the most promising batsmen of all time. He plays for Pakistan in International cricket from (1991-2007). Inzaman was a very reliable batsman and was extremely good against both spin and fast bowling. Moreover, he was one of the batsmen renowned for his pull shots and big hits.
He holds many records for his country he is one of the major players in Pakistan’s famous 1992 triumph his aggressive batting led to Pakistan’s victory in the World Cup in 1992.
Due to his marvelous class, consistency, patience, and ability to smash the ball, Inzaman comes in the 10th spot on this elite list of greatest batsmen of all time.
Test Stats
He scored 8830 runs in test cricket at an impressive average of 50.16 third most by any Pakistani batter including 25 centuries and 46 half-centuries and his highest was 329 against New Zealand.
ODI Stats
In odis, he is the leading run-scorer of his country with 11701 runs at an average of almost 40 and his best score was 137* against New Zealand.
Furthermore, Inzamam was the only Pakistani batsman to score 20,000 runs in international cricket. He is undoubtedly one of the finest batsmen of all time.
9. Jack Kallis (South Africa)
Jack Henry Kallis is a former South African cricket player who plays for South Africa in internationals from (1995-2014). Kallis is technically a very sound and strong batsman. He has often destroyed the opposition into smut with his flawless batting and imperturbable approach at the crease. Kallis can play every shot though his flat sixes and smashing drives are the main weapons in his playing days.
Kallis is surely one of the greatest batsmen of all time, well he also tops the chart of the greatest all-rounders who ever played the game.
Test Stats
Kallis is one of the best batsmen that world cricket has ever witnessed. He scored 13289 test runs at a divine average of 55.37 3rd most by any in the world till now including 45 hundred seconds most in the world and 58 half-centuries. His highest 224 came against Sri Lanka in test cricket.
ODI Stats
Same as test cricket his ODIs stats are also insane he has 11579 runs to his name with a superb average of 44.36. He scored 17 centuries and 86 half-centuries in this format his highest was 139 against the West Indies in this format of the game and he is regarded as one of the best ODI players of all time.
T20 Stats
Kallis was a decent T20 player as well and has 666 runs to his name with a brilliant average of 35.05 at a strike rate of 119.35; his highest in this format is 73.
He has 25534 runs in international cricket, the 5th most by any batter in the world, followed by Sachin Tendulkar, KC Sangakkara, RT Pointing, and Mahela Jayawardene.
8. Kumara Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
Kumara Chokshananda Sangakkara is a former Sri Lankan professional cricketer and is currently serving as a commentator. He played for Sri Lanka from 2000–2015 in internationals; he has many records to his name in his long decorated career and is broadly regarded as the greatest wicket-keeper batsman of all time.
Moreover, he is one of the most classy left-handed batters of all time, and he’s so pleasant to watch in his playing days. Whenever he plays cover drives, it’s always pleasing to watch him on his playing days. Sangakkara was extremely good against both spin and fast bowling and always gave nightmares to the opposition bowling lineup through his patience and pleasing stroke-making. He was so rational and persistent throughout his whole career.
Test Stats
In test cricket, he scored 12400 runs at an astonishing average of 57.40, including 38 centuries and 52 half-centuries, the most by any other Sri Lankan batsman. He scored 11 double-centuries in the Tests, the second-most by any batsman in the world till now, only behind Don Bradman’s 12. He made a career-best 319 against Bangladesh in tests.
ODI Stats
Sangakkara scored 14234 runs in ODI internationals with an average of 41.98 and was only behind Sachin Tendulkar’s 18426. He is undoubtedly one of the best ODI batsmen of all time. He was very consistent throughout his whole ODI career and also owns some major records to his name, including 4 consecutive WC hundreds that came in the 2015 WC. He scored 25 centuries and a mammoth 92 half-centuries in his ODI career; his best in the format was 169 against South Africa.
T20 Stats
In T20s, he has 1382 runs to his name with an average of 31.40 and a strike rate of 119.5, and his highest in this format of the game is 78.
Sangakkara scored 28,016 runs in international cricket across all formats of the game and has the second most runs after Sachin Tendulkar in internationals.
7. AB De Villiers (South Africa)
Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, famously known as Mr 360*, is a retired South African international cricket player. He played his first international match in 2004 and announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2018. Without a single percent of doubt, he was the most ruthless batsman who ever came in the history of the game, he thrashed the bowlers atrociously in every corner of the ground That’s why he was called Mr 360* degrees in the cricketing fraternity.
In addition, AB was the architect of innovative shots and introduced various ranges of unorthodox shots to the cricketing world. He has done things that are not possible for any other batsman. He has many records to his name, including the fastest ODI 50, 100, and 150. Surely he is one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
Test Stats
Despite his explosive batting ability, his temperament and patience in test cricket are second to none. Whether it’s test cricket or white ball cricket, his name comes at the top among the greats of the game. He scored 8765 test runs with a brilliant average of 50.66 and his best in this format is 278* against Pakistan.
ODI stats
AB was the most brutal ODI batsman of all time. He scored 9,577 in ODIs with an exceptional strike rate of 101.9 and averaged an exceptional 53.50. He smashed 25 centuries and 53 half-centuries in international ODIs.He scored 149 runs in 44 balls against West Indies with a strike rate of 338.63 his whole ODI career is laden with these kinds of exceptional innings, which makes him the most brutal batsman of all time.
T20 Stats
He was not consistent in T20s like he was in ODIs and tests, but still, he was considered one of the most promising batsmen in the shortest format of the game because of his breathtaking shots and exceptional six-hitting ability. His highest was 79* against Scotland in international T2Os.
He scored 19864 in internationals for his team, the second-most by a South African batsman after Jack Kallis. It was considered that AB de Villiers was the greatest batsman of all time.
6. Virat Kohli (India)
Virat Kohli is an Indian cricketer and former captain who plays internationals for India. He has ruled the world of cricket for the past 15 years, is far ahead of all other batsmen of his era, and is considered the greatest ODI batsman of all time. He is arguably one of the finest and greatest batsmen who ever played the gentle men’s game called cricket. Virat Kohli is the most consistent run-scorer in the history of cricket across all formats.
Moreover, he is popularly known as the King of Cricket,” Chase Master,” and “Runs Machine in the world of cricket. He holds numerous records.
Test stats
He scored 8416 runs in the tests, with an average of 48.93 till now and counting. He has 28 centuries and 28 half centuries to his name in this format. His highest score in this format is 254* against South Africa.
ODI stats
He has 12809 runs in ODI internationals, with numerous records to his name in this format. He holds the record for the second most ODI centuries (46); only Sachin Tendulkar has more ODI centuries than him. The way he is scoring hundreds in every condition, he breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s record shortly. The chase master has also scored 64 fifties in ODI internationals. His best score of 183 in ODIs came against their arch-rivals, Pakistan.
T20 Stats
The king of ODI cricket is also the leading run-scorer of T20 internationals with 4008 runs. He scored a memorable 122 runs against Afghanistan, which is also his highest in T20s.
So it is very clear from his insane stats that he is one of the greatest batsmen of all time because stats speak. He is on the 6th spot in terms of most international runs with 25233.
5. Brian Lara (West Indies)
Brian Charles Lara is a retired West Indies international cricketer widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time. So definitely, he is the greatest Windies batsman who ever played the game. He makes batting look so easy, simple, and assured. Brian’s technique and style are not sanctioned. He always starts with a balanced stance and a habit of scoring big innings. Brian Charles Lara has stood out and stood tall as one of the best batsmen the world has ever witnessed. He was a world-class batsman and could play big innings; that’s why he has the highest individual score in test cricket, 400*, not out against England. He played international cricket for his country between 1990 and 2007).
Test Stats
Lara has 11953 runs in tests and averaging a brilliant 53.88. He scored 34 test tons and 48 fifties in tests. His highest score in test cricket was 400 not out against England, which is still a world record.
ODI Stats
Brian Lara was also a Goat in ODI cricket-like he was in tests. Lara scored 10405 runs in ODI internationals for the West Indies, and his career-best 169 runs came against Sri Lanka. He scored 19 centuries and 63 half-centuries in international white-ball cricket.
He did not play a single T20 international in his whole career. But still, his international runs tally goes to 22,260, and he leads the chart of most international runs for West Indies.
4. Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Ricky Thomas Ponting famously known as Ricky Ponting, is an Australian retired cricketer. Ponting started his international cricket journey in 1995 and he retired from all forms of the game in 2013. Ricky Ponting was the most dominant batsman in both formats throughout the 2000s and was Popularly known for his impeccable pull shot He was certainly the best puller of the short ball. Furthermore, he had a fantastic ability to attack and execute shots that you could not set any fielder to defend against. Once in a while, batters like Ponting were born; indeed, he is one of the greatest batsmen ever to grace the game of cricket.
Test Stats
Ponting became the first player to hit 1,000 test runs in a calendar year. Such ridiculous records made Ponting one of the greatest of all time. In his test career, he managed to score a mammoth 13378 runs averaging 51.9 with 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries. His career-best test score came against India where he smashed 257 runs.
ODI stats
Ponting was also an ODI Goat 13704 to his name in this format of the game. He struck 30 centuries and 82 half-centuries in ODI internationals. He went berserk against South Africa and scored a career-best ODI innings of 164.
T20 Stats
Ponting played just 17 t20s throughout his career and scored 401 runs with a career-best 98* against New Zealand.
With 27483 runs, Ponting comes in third on the list of the most runs in international cricket, and unquestionably, he is one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
3. Viv Richards (West Indies)
Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, widely known as Viv Richards, is a former international cricketer. Viv played internationals for his national side between (1974 and 1991) for West Indies. His name came above all when it came to fearless cricket. Viv was the one who introduced fearless cricket to the world in an era when fast bowlers were ruling cricket. And he never wears a helmet while facing the deadliest pacers but still, no fast bowler dares to bowl him. Till his arrival, the world of cricket was unfamiliar with fast cricket. But he was the one who introduced fast cricket to the world.
For this reason, many considered him the greatest batsman ever produced. The alacrity and sheer dominance with which he demolished the world’s fastest bowlers would be a dream for modern-day batsmen. Viv was the most fearless and devastating batsman of all time. And surely one of the greatest batsmen in the game.
Test Stats
Although he was one of the most brutal strikers on the ball, he still has a very fine career. Viv scored 8540 in red-ball cricket, averaging a remarkable 50.3. He struck 24 centuries and 45 half-centuries in test cricket. His highest individual score in test cricket was 291 against England.
ODI Stats
In ODI cricket, he scored 6721 at an average of 47, and his strike rate was 90.2, which was way ahead of that time. He went insane against England and smacked 189*, which was also his best score in the format.
He has 15,261 international runs across formats and is undoubtedly one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
2. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Sachin Tendulkar’s full name is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, and he was a former professional cricketer from India. He started his international cricket journey at a very young age when was just 16 years old. Sachin Tendulkar was significantly considered by many to be “The Greatest Batsman of All Time”. In 2012, he became the first and only batsman ever to score 100 international centuries, which is still a world record. His international records are almost impossible to break for any batsman, especially the record of 100 centuries in international cricket play and the most international runs scored 34,357.
In addition, he was the most respected and most worshipped player in the world, called the “God of Cricket, as well as the Little Master” and the “Master Blaster” in the cricketing world. Sachin Tendulkar’s career is studded with uncountable records and achievements. He retired from international cricket in 2013 after a remarkable career spread over two and a half decades. His stats are so insane as compared to his competitors, and he was way ahead of them by all means… Unquestionably, he was one of the greatest batsmen” who ever played the game.
Test Stats
Sachin Tendulkar leads the chart for most test runs in international cricket with 15921 runs. Also, he holds the record for most centuries in test cricket with 51; he also scored 68 half-centuries, and his average is 53.78 in test cricket. Sachin’s best score in test cricket is 248*, not out against Bangladesh.
ODI Stats
Format changes, but Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy continues likewise in test cricket; he also leads the chart of most runs in ODI cricket with 18426 runs to his name and most ODI hundreds as well with 49 hundred. His ODI average is 44.83, with the highest individual score of 200, not out against South Africa.
T20 Stats
He played only 1 T20 international in his whole career and scored 10 runs.
1. Don Bradman (Australia)
The Greatest batsman of all time who ever walked the planet
Sir Donald George Bradman Aka, ‘The Don,” was acknowledged as the greatest batsman who ever walked the earth. He played international cricket for Australia from 1928 to 1948. Bradman’s career average of 99.94 is emphatically believed to be the greatest achievement by any cricketer who ever played the game. In his era, bats were not as good as today’s bats and boundaries were much bigger than in comparison to modern-day cricket, so at that time, batsmen couldn’t rely on bats; they depended on their timing, power, and technique. Furthermore, he played on uncovered pitches which were much more dangerous as compared to modern-day pitches. He can’t be compared with any other batsman and was undeniably “The Greatest batsman” who ever lived.
Career Stats
During his 20-year-long playing career, he scored 6996 runs at an outrageous average of 99.94. Bradman’s record stands out like a lake in a desert. For this reason, he was undeniably “The Greatest batsman” of all time.
Summary
The Top 10 Greatest Batsmen Of All Time (Updated 2024)
1 Don Bradman
2 Sachin Tendulkar
3 Viv Richards
4 Ricky Ponting
5 Brian Lara
6 Virat Kohli
7 Ab de Villiers
8 Kumara Sangakkara
9 Jack Kallis
10 Inzamam-Ul-Haq
Very Good 👍