Who is the GOAT of Cricket: Ranking the All-Time Greats

Before we dive into the GOAT of cricket, let’s understand what GOAT means. GOAT stands for Greatest of All Time. It’s a term used to describe people who are the best in their fields, especially in sports and entertainment. For example, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor are called the GOATs of Hindi cinema, while Michael Jordan is the GOAT in basketball and Pelé in football.

List of GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in Cricket

In cricket, we chose the GOAT from a time when the game was tougher and more challenging. There was no batting advantage, pitches were difficult, and the ball wasn’t changed until it was completely worn. Batsmen had to carefully defend against reverse swing from bowlers on very flat surfaces. Let’s take a look and decide who is the GOAT of cricket in the world?

10. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

Jacques Kallis was one of the greatest all-rounders the world has ever seen. With strong skills in both batting and bowling, he frequently rescued South Africa in challenging moments. Kallis is the only cricketer to score over 10,000 runs and take more than 200 wickets in both Tests and ODIs. Among the greatest cricketers of all time, he rightfully holds the 10th spot on the list.

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Top Score	Centuries	50s	Wickets
Test	166	13,289	55.37	224	45	58	292
ODIs	328	11,579	44.36	139	17	86	273
T20I	25	666	35.0	73	0	5	12

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9. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India)

MS Dhoni is not only India’s most successful captain but also one of cricket’s all-time great leaders. Anyone building an all-time world fantasy team would choose Dhoni as captain. He is the only captain to win every major ICC trophy. Calm under pressure, Dhoni is known for his exceptional finishing skills in limited-overs cricket, sharp wicketkeeping, and his unique helicopter shot.

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Top Score	100s	50s	Catches	Stumpings
Test	90	4,876	38.09	224	6	33	256	38
ODIs	350	10,773	50.57	183*	10	73	321	123
T20Is	98	1,617	37.6	56	–	2	57	34

You may like to read – MS Dhoni Net Worth Net Worth: Salary & Earning Sources

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8. Shane Warne (Australia)

Shane Warne transformed leg spin into a deadly weapon and is considered one of the most excellent spinners in cricket history. He holds legendary records in red-ball cricket and also made a mark playing exceptional T20 cricket. As captain, he led Rajasthan Royals to their maiden IPL title, a success the team has been striving to replicate since then.

Format	Matches	Wickets	Bowling Average	5-Wicket Hauls	10-Wicket Hauls	Best Bowling Figures
Test	145	708	25.41	37	10	8/71
ODIs	194	293	25.73	1	–	5/33

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7. Sir Ian Botham (England)

Botham served as England’s talisman, a powerful all-rounder who could turn matches with bat or ball. His iconic Ashes performances defined an era for English cricket. That’s why he is considered the GOAT of cricket.

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Top Score	100s	50s	Wickets	Bowling Average	5-wicket hauls
Test	102	5200	33.5	208	14	22	383	28.4	27
ODIs	116	2113	23.2	79	0	9	145	28.5	0

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6. Imran Khan (Pakistan)

Imran Khan led Pakistan to its only World Cup title in 1992. Renowned for his fast bowling, powerful batting, and charismatic leadership, Khan had a profound impact on cricket that extended well beyond Pakistan.

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Top Score	100s	50s	Wickets	Bowling Average	5-wicket hauls
Test	88	3807	37.7	136	6	18	362	22.8	23
ODIs	175	3709	33.4	102*	1	19	182	26.6	1

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5. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies)

Garfield Sobers was the ultimate all-rounder, a graceful left-handed batsman, an effective bowler of multiple styles, and a superb fielder. He held the world record Test score for 36 years.

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Top Score	100s	50s	Wickets	Bowling Average	5-wicket hauls
Test	93	8032	57.8	365*	26	30	235	34.0	6
ODIs	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	31.0	0

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4. Brian Lara (West Indies)

Brian Lara, a left-handed genius, still holds the world record for the highest Test (400*) and First-Class (501*) scores. His stylish play and epic innings remain legendary.

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Top Score	Centuries	50s
Test	131	11953	52.9	400*	34	48
ODIs	328	11,579	44.36	139	17	86

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3. Sir Viv Richards (West Indies)

Viv Richards changed how the world approached batting-especially in ODIs. Known for his fearless hitting, rapid scoring, and swagger, he dominated bowlers in both formats.

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Top Score	100s	50s	Wickets	Bowling Average	5-wicket hauls
Test	121	8540	50.2	291	24	45	32	61.4	0
ODIs	187	6721	47.0	189*	11	45	118	35.8	2

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2. Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Sachin Tendulkar inspired a billion dreams. Known as the “God of Cricket,” he holds nearly every major batting record, combining skill, longevity, and humility at the highest level. His records remain unbroken for 100 centuries, which seemed impossible to break in the modern era of cricket.

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Top Score	100s	50s	Wickets	Bowling Average	5-wicket hauls
Test	200	15921	53.8	248*	51	68	46	54.2	0
ODIs	463	18426	44.8	200*	49	96	154	44.5	2

You may like to read – Sachin Tendulkar Net Worth: Salary & Earning Sources

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1. Sir Don Bradman (Australia)

If anyone asks who the GOAT of cricket is, most will refer to Don Bradman. He is the ultimate cricket GOAT because no cricket player till now has matched the average of 99.94 in test cricket. His Test average of 99.94 remains unbeaten and unthreatened, making him the gold standard for batting greatness.

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Top Score	100s	50s	Wickets	Bowling Average	5-wicket hauls
Test	52	6996	99.9	334	29	13	2	36.0	0

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