With 2.5 Billion estimated fans across the globe, Cricket is the 2nd most popular sport after football. Therefore, Cricketers become famous among their fans when they represent their nations in international Cricket. Regardless of their ethnicity, religion, and culture, Cricket has become a religion among cricket fans. Today, we will take a look at the Top 10 Most Popular Cricketers in the World.
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Top 10 Most Popular Cricketers in The World
Cricketers who have shown passion and commitment to the game of Cricket have turned into legends upon their retirements. Every Cricket playing country have their Cricket legends. There have been many famous cricketers from Sachin Tendulkar to Clive Loyd and Waseem Akram to Adam Gilchirst. So, let us highlight the Top 10 Most Popular Cricketers in the World.
Sachin Tendulkar
Also known by the name of Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar is a God of Cricket in India. He is one of the Greatest Batsmen of All-time in Cricket. He owns the records of most runs in Test and ODI cricket.
Moreover, he is the only batsman to complete a hundred centuries in test (51) and ODI (49) Cricket. Apart from it, he also scored the first Double Hundred in ODI Cricket. Sachin Played 200 hundred tests and 463 ODIs for India.
Sachin is the most Popular Cricket in the World, with a huge fan following of 22.6 million. Thus, he takes the top Spot on our list of Most Popular Cricketers.
Shahid Afridi
Nicknamed Lala and Boom, Shahid Afridi takes the 2nd Spot on our list of Famous Cricketers with a big fan following of 10.1 Million. He earned him named as the most aggressive and most furious batsman in the World during his career.
He held the record of Fastest ODI Century on just 37 balls for 17 until it got broke by Corey Anderson. Apart from it, he also owns three of the first seven fastest ODI hundreds. Most sixes record in ODI cricket (323) also belongs to Afridi.
In 2013, Afridi hit the most extended Six, recording 158 meters in the distance against South Africa. He has also recorded most wickets in ODIs at the 3rd position. Surprisingly, he is the only Cricketer to cross 7000 runs and pick 350 plus wicket in ODI format.
Shoaib Akhtar
Nicknamed Pindi Boy due to his birth, City Rawalpindi, Shoaib Akhtar claims 3rd place on our list with a fan following of 3.7 Million. He is said to be the Fastest Bowler in the game of Cricket. Shoaib is known for his aggressive bouncers and fast bowling among his fans.
He is the first Bowler to break the barrier of 100 mph speed. When he bowled his maiden ball to God of Cricket Sachin Tendulkar, Sachin was out for a Golden duck. He recorded 101.3 mph speed against England in Cricket World Cup 2003, which still is the fastest ball ever bowled in Cricket.
Even the Great Cricket Legends like Brian Lara and Saurav Ganguly feared to face the fast bowling of Shoaib Akhtar. It is the reason he still enjoys popularity among his fans.
MS Dhoni
Former Indian Wicket Keeper and Batsman MS Dhoni take the 4th Spot on our list of famous Cricketers in the World. He is the most successful Indian Captain in all three formats. After his retirement in 2019, he now captains Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.
Dhoni took India to the first position on ICC Test Rankings in 2009. During his captaincy, India won the T20 World Cup 2007 and Cricket World Cup 2011. Besides his batting, he also owns the record of most stumping by a Wicket Keeper.
He is the first Indian Wicket Keeper to cross 4,000 test runs. His 148 against Pakistan is the fastest century by an Indian Captain. He also holds the record of most centuries by a Captain for India.
Wasim Akram
Are we Making the list of Most Popular Cricketers? How can we miss Sultan of Swing Waseem Akram? He is said to be the most significant fast Bowler in the game of Cricket. He owns the record of most wickets in List A matches (881).
Malinga owns the record of two tests and two ODI Hat-tricks. Moreover, he also has the most Sixes in a Test innings record to his name. Wasim was the first Bowler to take 500 wickets in ODI Cricket.
He has 17 tests and 22 ODI Man of the Match Awards to his name. Even today, he is a true inspiration for many young fast bowlers in Pakistan. Therefore, Waseem Akram takes the 5th Spot on our list of Most Popular Fast Bowlers in Cricket.
Brian Lara
Former West Indies Captain and Legendary Cricketer Brian Lara Put together on our list at the 6th Spot. Lara is nicknamed Princey among his fans. He is the greatest Batsman in Cricket of all times.
Princey set many records during his career from 1990 to 2007. He owns the record of most individual runs (501 not out) in First-Class cricket. He is the only batsman to score 400 runs in test innings.
Apart from it, Lara is the only batsman to reclaim the highest individual test inning score. Princey was the fastest batsman to complete 10,000 and 11,000 runs in test cricket.
He also owns the record of scoring the most runs (28) in test cricket. All in all, he is the best batsman of all time in Cricket. Therefore, he deserves 6th position on our list.
Chris Gayle
Modern-day West Indies Cricketer Chris Gayle also makes it on our list of Popular West Indian Cricketers. He is one of the Coolest West Indies Player known by Universe Boss, Gayle Storm, and Six Machine.
Gayle is the most capped player for Windies in International Cricket. He is the only Caribbean player to score hundreds in all three formats of Cricket. Universe Boss is the first batsman to hit 1,000 sixes in T20 Cricket.
Gayle Storm is the Highest run-scorer for West Indies in ODI format. He is the only batsman to score a triple hundred in test, a double hundred in ODI, and a century in T20 format. Apart from it, he also owns the record of Most Sixes in International Cricket.
The list of records set by Universe boss would go on and on; still, he keeps his cool during the play. Therefore, he is so much popular among all cricket fans regardless of their nationality.
Lasith Malinga
Former Sri Lankan Captain Lasith Malinga grabs the 8th Spot in the most popular Sri Lankan Cricketers. He earned his nickname Yorker King due to his rare bowling action that focuses on full-length bowling. Also, He is called a Yorker Specialist.
Malinga holds the record of most hat-tricks in International Cricket. He is the only Bowler to take a four-wicket haul on four consecutive deliveries. Apart from it, he is also the first Bowler to complete 100 T20 wickets.
He is the first and only Bowler to pick three ODI Hat-tricks in Cricket. Malinga is said to be one of the Greatest Sri Lankan Bowlers. However, he earned his fame among fans due to his iconic Hair Style.
Muttiah Muralitharan
Sri Lankan Cricket Legend Muttiah Muralitharan joins our list in 9th place. Cricket’s Elder regard him as the greatest and most successful Test Bowler in cricket history. His nickanem is Murali.
Muralitharan is the first and only Bowler to take 800 wickets in test format. He also has the most ODI wickets (502) to his name. Murali owns most five-wicket hauls (57) and most ten-wicket hauls (22) records to his name.
Due to his excellent bowling stats, he also has the most Man of the series Record (11) in test cricket to his name. Even today, he is an idol for young Sri Lankan bowlers. Therefore, he surely deserves his place on our list of top cricketers in the World.
Brett Lee
Former Australian Fast Bowler Brett Lee makes the final Spot on our list. He was nicknamed Binga after the Australian Electronics Store. He is the 2nd Fastest Bowler in Cricket after Shoaib Akhtar.
Lee is the first Bowler in T20 Cricket to pick up a hat-trick. He is the highest wicket-taker in ODIs for Australia. His fastest ball recorded a speed of 100.1 mph in Cricket.
Lee has a great style and fashioning sense. He is said to be the fastest Bowler Ever in Australian Cricket. Thus, he takes the 10th Spot on our list.
Conclusion
So here is our list. Who do you think should make it on our list. Kindly, Let us know in the comments.
