All-rounders are the backbone of any cricket team. A player who can do everything, like bat, bowl, and field, is like a hope for every team out there. It would be interesting to know some of the top all-rounders in cricket globally. In this blog, we’ll explore the top 10 all-rounders in cricket history, focusing on their achievements, unique skills, and the impact they had on the game.
Who is an All-Rounder in Cricket?
An all-rounder is a cricket player who can play both bowling and batting economically, essentially splitting their runs and wickets for the team’s benefit. While specialists may view batting and bowling as distinct duties, all-rounders combine the two to improve team performance. All-rounders are helpful in all game types because they can score runs like a batsman and take wickets like a bowler, which increases team efficiency. All-rounders may be highly useful to adapt to settings and turn around unexpected results because of the circumstances of a team. Because they can adjust more quickly than specialists, all-rounders are among the most crucial players in cricket and often win games.
Top 10 All-Rounders in Cricket History
1) Sanath Jayasuriya – Sri Lanka
Sanath Jayasuriya is one of the best all-rounders in the ODI cricket format. He hails from Sri Lanka and has played 445 ODIs, scoring 13,430 runs and taking 323 wickets. Jaysuriya has exceptional skills and has made his name in the cricket world as the top all-rounder. He is famous for his aggressive batting and fearless approach.
| Batting Style | Left-Handed Batting Style |
| Bowling Style | Left-arm Spin |
| Matches | 445 |
| Runs | 13,430 |
| Wickets | 323 |
2) Jacques Kallis – South Africa
Jacques Kallis is known as the most complete all-rounder in modern cricket. Kallis was the backbone of South Africa’s team for almost 20 years. Scoring 11,579 runs in ODI cricket format to taking 273 significant wickets, he was a star player of that time. His calm nature and brilliant performance make him the best batter and best bowler of his time.
| Batting Style | Right-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Matches | 328 |
| Runs | 11,579 |
| Wickets | 273 |
3) Shahid Afridi – Pakistan
Shahid Afridi is known as the ‘Boom Boom’ Afridi and is one of the best all-rounders of Pakistan. Known for his aggressive Batting and effective leg-spin, he had played 398 ODIs. He was the biggest supporter of the Pakistan Cricket team in helping them win many matches.
| Batting Style | Right-handed Batsman |
| Bowling Style | Leg-Spin |
| Matches | 398 |
| Runs | 8,064 |
| Wickets | 395 |
4) Shakib Al Hasan – Bangladesh
One of the top all-rounders in the world and the best in Bangladesh is Shakib Al Hasan. In 247 ODIs, he has amassed over 7,500 runs and claimed over 317 wickets. Bangladesh has risen in world cricket thanks to Shakib’s steadiness with the bat and the ball, and he can win a match under any circumstances.
| Batting Style | Left-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Slow-Left Arm Orthodox |
| Matches | 247 |
| Runs | 7,500 |
| Wickets | 317 |
5) Sachin Tendulkar – India
Although his batting prowess has earned him the title of “God of Cricket,” Sachin Tendulkar was also a skilled spinner. With his leg-spin and off-spin, he grabbed 154 wickets and amassed a record 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs. Tendulkar became a true all-rounder and a worldwide cricket legend due to his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.
| Batting Style | Right-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-spin and leg-spin |
| Matches | 463 |
| Runs | 18,426 |
| Wickets | 154 |
6) Chris Cairns – New Zealand
The New Zealand team has always been filled with so many amazing players, and Chris Cairns is the most prominent all-rounder of this team and has given his best performances in the 1990s and 2000s. With a tally of 215 matches, he has scored 4,950 runs and 201 wickets, and he has secured a better place in the top all-rounders list.
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Matches | 215 |
| Runs | 4,950 |
| Wickets | 201 |
7) Kapil Dev – India
Kapil Dev is a cricket legend from India who has inspired millions to dream of becoming a cricketer. Talking about his ODI playings, he has played a total of 225 matches and scored 3,783 runs. He was a game-changer and an amazing lead for the India Cricket team in the 80s.
| Batting Style | Right-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm pace |
| Matches | 225 |
| Runs | 3,783 |
| Wickets | 253 |
8) Wasim Akram – Pakistan
The “Sultan of Swing,” Wasim Akram, was a fast bowler who could bat as well. In 356 ODIs, he scored 3,717 runs and claimed an incredible 502 wickets. Akram was one of the most complete all-rounders in cricket history because of his ability to swing the ball and score crucial runs.
| Batting Style | Left-handed |
| Bowling Style | Fast-Spin |
| Matches | 356 |
| Runs | 3,717 |
| Wickets | 502 |
9) Imran Khan – Pakistan
Imran Khan is considered one of the greatest captains of all time. He had led the cricket team of Pakistan in the best way possible and won their first World Cup in 1992. His fast-bowling ability has made him inspired so many people around the world.
| Batting Style | Right-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast |
| Matches | 175 |
| Runs | 3,709 |
| Wickets | 182 |
10) Andrew Fintoff – England
In the 2000s, England’s best all-around player was Andrew Flintoff. He took 169 wickets and scored 3,394 runs in 141 ODIs. Particularly in the Ashes series, Flintoff was renowned for his strong batting, fast-medium bowling, and capacity to perform under pressure.
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Fast-medium |
| Matches | 141 |
| Runs | 3,394 |
| Wickets | 169 |
Honorable Mentions
Even though these are the top 10, Ravindra jadeja, Ben Stokes, Daniel Vettori, Shaun Pollock, and Richard Hadlee are just a few of the all-rounders who have made an impact on cricket. Each contributed their unique abilities and flair, demonstrating that cricket is a game for players with a wide range of skills.
Final Thoughts…
Well, cricket teams are full of the best batsmen and bowlers, but all-rounders add a lot of hope in chasing the tough targets. All-rounders like Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar were the efficient players of their time and have made a lot of unbeaten records.
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2) Top 10 Players Cricket Retirement In 2024 – 2025
