In a country like India, where cricket is hailed as a religion and cricketers are admired as gods, a peculiar debate often takes center stage. “Who is the GOAT of cricket?” is a topic that often sparks controversy as well as intriguing opinions and names whenever discussed amongst pundits and fervent cricket fans.
From time to time, many cricketers dominated the game with their incredible skills and performances. There are heavy debates between names like Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Vivian Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, and the Indian cricketing dynamo Virat Kohli.
In this blog, we will be taking a brief look at the distinguished careers of some names who are often regarded as the greatest ever to brace this game.
Top 5 Players – Greatest of All Time of Cricket
Sir Donald Bradman – Australia
A batter who showed skills with the willow that were far ahead of the time, Sir Donald Bradman, aka “The Don” is often regarded as one of the best batters of the 20th century. Born on August 27, 1908, in New South Wales, Bradnman’s highly cherished cricket career inspired the future generation of cricketers.
What made Bradman great is his unbelievable average of “99.94”, a record which is still unbroken. Throughout the 52 games that he played, the Baggy Green southpaw scored 6996 runs, which had 29 centuries and 13 fifties. These unnatural stats are enough to define his aura in the realm of cricket, which inspired many to take the bat in their hand.
A thing worth noting is that Bradman’s classical batting shows at that time made him a symbol of Australian pride, which laid down the foundation for Australia being developed as a cricketing powerhouse.
Sir Vivian Richards – West Indies
The man who changed the destiny of Caribbean cricket, Vivian Richards stepped into the international cricketing scene when the One Day International (ODI) cricket started to flourish. Known for his explosive batting style, the Anituga-born cricketer transformed the contemporary style of scoring runs with his power-hitting.
If we take a look at Richards’s ODI stats, we can see that the right-handed batter has 6721 runs in 187 games with 11 centuries and an average of 47.00. But these stats do not define his class. It was how he used to score those runs. He used to crush any bowler he faced, irrespective of their reputation or the pitch conditions.
Richard was more than just a cricketer. He was a symbol of Caribbean pride. His prime time is considered the golden era of West Indies cricket. Richards was more than a player, he was an ultimate statement of greatness and confidence.
Sunil Gavaskar – India
Often considered one of the best openers of all time, Sunil Gavaskar. Also known as the ‘Little Master’, Gavaskar changed the orthodox batting perception in Indian cricket. He becomes a standout if you delve into the era in which he played.
The time when wild pace ruled cricket, and the batters used to remain exposed to the leather, Gavaskar pulverized almost all of the most gruesome bowlers of his time. The mind-boggling fact is that the Mumbai-born did it without the protection of modern-day helmets.
The first to score 10,000 international runs in test cricket, Gavaskar’s record of 34 centuries stood as the shining beacon of his greatness for almost two decades. In the modernized era, when batters come to the pitch with state-of-the-art safety equipment, Gavaskar’s courage and skills stay way beyond.
His fearless batting display against the dangerous West Indies bowlers like Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding who were in their golden laid down the base for the emergence of a dominating Indian team in the realm of cricket.
4. Sachin Tendulkar – India
Hailed as the ‘God of Cricket’ by his fans, Sachin Tendulkar is by far the best who changed the destiny of cricket. The master blaster was not just a cricketer but a one-time phenomenon. The right-handed batter stepped up into the International cricketing scene at the tender age of 16, and made a flurry of records which may never be broken, leaving an indelible mark on cricket.
Tendulkar’s cricketing stats stand beyond belief. With over 34,000 international runs and 100 centuries, there are pretty less chances that anyone can attain his level ever. Notably, the 51-year-old’s knock of 200 runs against South Africa back in 2010 is the first double century of ODI cricket. With a career spanning more than two decades, his batting style was a classic mixture of orthodox cricketing shots mixed with innovative punches and sweeps.
Beyond his achievements, Sachin’s role in India’s ODI World Cup 2011 triumph is something that will always be remembered in the history of Indian cricket. With 482 runs in nine innings, he was the second-highest scorer of the grand cricketing extravaganza which ended India’s World Cup drought after a hefty span of 27 years.
With stats beyond reach and a personality way above others, Sachin is a national icon who continues to inspire generations to come.
5. Virat Kohli – India
The last member of this list, Virat Kohli is a man who is generally regarded as the ultimate GOAT (Greatest of all time) of cricket. Virat just not change the fate of Indian cricket, but moreover, the Delhi-born guy transformed the way Indians used to play the ‘Gentleman’s game’.
His highly aggressive approach to the game complimented by his impeccable cricketing skills is a thing which is a less seen aspect. The latter announced his arrival when he led India to a remarkable win in the U-19 World Cup 2008.
Shedding light on his milestones, Virat is the third-highest ODI scorer (13,906) and the third-highest T20I scorer (13,906) of all time. His knock of 117 runs against New Zealand in the semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2023 made him surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record of 49 ODI tons, establishing Virat as one of the greatest players of all time. Moreover, he is the fastest player to score 13,00 runs in ODIs (267 innings).
Virat’s impeccable level of fitness, dominating personality, and thumping stats tally established him as the global ambassador of cricket. Adding more to this thought, the 36-year-old is one of the richest cricketers in the world.
