Many young and aspiring cricket players are getting their first chances to play for their national teams. Some of them struggle and fade away, while others manage to secure their positions with outstanding performances. These outstanding players aim to become the top stars in cricket and maintain their dominance for a long time. However, the challenging nature of the modern game makes this quite difficult. Yet, a select few have proven themselves and earned the admiration of fans, earning the title of cricket king.
Let’s talk about the five top players who are currently consider the best and most dominant figures in the world of cricket.
Virat Kohli: King of Cricket in India
Virat Kohli is without any doubt cricket’s biggest star in India. He has amassed a remarkable 25,322 runs in T20s, Tests, and ODIs, among other international cricket formats. The moniker “King Kohli” has been given to Kohli for good reason. Indian cricket fans hold a special place in their hearts for him. He is still one of the best players in the game despite a recent slump in performance.
Kohli stands out for his exceptional batting technique, particularly his entertaining cover drives. He has the capacity to play for extended stretches of time and prefers to patiently build his innings. His impressive averages in all three game formats demonstrate his consistency.
He is one of the very few players who have maintained an average of over 50 in all three formats, making him deserving of the title “king of cricket”. The feat of maintaining a 57.32 average across 274 ODI games is impressive. He also has averages of 52.74 in T20s and 49.30 in Tests. A strike rate of 137.97 is impressive in T20 cricket.
Virat Kohli: Batting Statistics
| Format | Current Rankings | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | Centuries (100s) | Fifties (50s) |
| Test | 14 | 111 | 8676 | 254 | 49.30 | 55.23 | 29 | 29 |
| ODI | 8 | 274 | 12898 | 183 | 57.32 | 93.63 | 46 | 65 |
| T20I | 14 | 115 | 4008 | 122 | 52.74 | 137.97 | 1 | 37 |
| Indian T20 League | – | 237 | 7263 | 113 | 37.25 | 130.02 | 7 | 50 |
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Babar Azam: King of cricket in Pakistan
The Pakistani cricket team’s captain has established himself as one of the best batsmen of the modern era and has a chance to surpass all other players in all three cricket formats. Babar Azam, who is only 28 years old, is still quite young and is consistently producing strong results in both the Twenty20 (T20) and One Day International (ODI) formats. He ranks among the top players in Test cricket, sharing third place with T. Head and K.K. Williamson.
Babar Azam has a remarkable ODI average of 59.17 and a Test average of 47.86. He is adept at modifying his gameplay to meet the demands of the game. His strike rate of over 127 in T20 games is a noteworthy illustration of this adaptability. Azam stands out among the younger cricketers who are expected to have a successful future. He has the potential to be the best cricket player in the world and is a leader on the field.
Babar Azam: Batting Statistics
| Format | Current Rankings | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
| Test | 4 | 49 | 3772 | 196 | 47.75 | 55.19 | 9 | 26 |
| ODIÂ | 1 | 100 | 5089 | 158 | 59.17 | 89.25 | 18 | 26 |
| T20I | 3 | 104 | 3485 | 122 | 41.49 | 128.41 | 3 | 30 |
| Pakistan Super League | – | 79 | 2935 | 115 | 43.80 | 124.84 | 1 | 2 |
Joe Root: King of cricket in England
Root has given up his position as the team’s leader and is now playing with a level of freedom that worries his rivals. Due to his exceptional abilities, he is aptly referred to as a cricket king. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Root consistently averages over 50, and he is starting to find his groove in Twenty20 (T20) games as well. He has an impressive T20 strike rate of over 120, demonstrating his capacity to adjust to the demands of the game.
Joe Root: Batting Statistics
| Format | Current Rankings | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
| Test | 2 | 135 | 11416 | 254 | 50.29 | 56.61 | 30 | 59 |
| ODI | 20 | 158 | 6207 | 133 | 50.06 | 86.93 | 16 | 36 |
| T20I | 98 | 32 | 893 | 90 | 35.72 | 126.31 | 0 | 5 |
| T20 Career | – | 91 | 2093 | 92* | 32.20 | 126.16 | 0 | 13 |
Steven Smith: King of cricket in Australia
Given that he originally joined the Australian team as a leg-spinner who could also bat, Smith’s rise in the world of cricket has been truly remarkable. His outstanding batting performances have gradually eclipsed his bowling prowess to the point where some fans may even be unaware of his bowling prowess. His batting ability has been nothing less than exceptional ever since he joined the team.
With his outstanding performances with the willow, Smith has often invited comparisons with Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli.
Steven Smith: Batting Statistics
| Format | Current Rankings | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
| Test | 3 | 102 | 9320 | 239 | 58.62 | 53.90 | 32 | 39 |
| ODI | 10 | 142 | 4939 | 164 | 44.50 | 87.52 | 16 | 12 |
| T20I | 63 | 1008 | 90 | 25.02 | 125.22 | 0 | 4 | |
| IPL | 103 | 2485 | 101 | 34.51 | 128.09 | 1 | 11 |
Kane Williamson: King of cricket in New Zealand
Kane Williamson, frequently hailed as the greatest New Zealand batsman in history, comes in at number fifth on our list. Williamson has excelled in all three of cricket’s formats despite being relatively young, and he has a unique shot that makes rotating strikes seem effortless. In ODIs and Test matches, he maintains averages of 48 and 54, respectively. Fans have seen Williamson compete in important competitions like the Cricket World Cup (2015 and 2019) and the Champions Trophy (2013 and 2017).
The New Zealand captain’s participation in the World Cup 2023 is still in question, despite the fact that he has a perfect record in ODI World Cups. In the most recent World Cup, Kane Willaimson won player of the competition for his 578 runs and two wickets.
In 22 innings, he has an average of 56.93, two centuries, and three fifty-sixes. Williamson finished second in each of the previous two competitions.
ALSO READ :- ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Schedule, Host, Defending Champions
Kane Williamson: Batting Statistics
| Format | Current Rankings | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
| Test | 1 | 94 | 8124 | 251 | 54.89 | 51.47 | 28 | 33 |
| ODI | 161 | 6555 | 148 | 47.85 | 80.99 | 13 | 42 | |
| T20I | 87 | 2464 | 95 | 33.30 | 122.89 | 0 | 17 | |
| IPL | 77 | 2101 | 89 | 36.22 | 126.03 | 0 | 18 |
There are many other talented cricketers whose names might not be mention in this list, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of their achievements. As players adapt to the challenges of the modern game, cricket is bound to witness the rise of many more exceptional talents who could become cricket kings in the years to come.
Who is the King of IPL?
In 100 Test matches, Virat Kohli has scored a total of 8007 runs, achieving his highest score of an unbeaten 257. His average is 50.35, and he has made 27 centuries and 28 half-centuries. He’s part of a select group of cricketers with two double hundreds in a Test series, and he stands alongside Sunil Gavaskar as the only player to have scored four centuries in a single Test series.
Kohli ODI stats
In the ODI format, Kohli’s achievements are remarkable, having accumulated over 12000 runs in 260 matches with an impressive 43 centuries and 64 fifties. He ranks second for the most centuries in this format. Additionally, he holds the third spot for the most runs (453) in a series and the fifth spot for the most centuries (5) in a calendar year.
Though he hasn’t hit a century in T20 Internationals (T20Is), Kohli’s performance is still exceptional. He compensates with 30 half-centuries, the highest number by any batsman in this format. His T20I batting average of 51.50 is the highest. He’s hit the second-most number of boundaries (298 fours) in T20Is, following Ireland’s PR Stirling.
Here are some quotes about Virat Kohli, often referred to as the King of Cricket:
- “If you want to know how the team is performing, look at Kohli’s face.” – Nasser Hussain
- “To become a good player, you need talent. To become a great player, you need an attitude like Kohli’s.” — Sunil Gavaskar
- “This guy is abusing the form he’s in. The kookaburra can’t take any more punishment.” – Darren Sammy
- “There’s no shame in being hit by a genius. Virat Kohli is a freak.” – Michael Vaughan
- “The kind of form he’s in, he picked this ball yesterday afternoon.” – Harsha Bhogle
- “I’ve not seen Sir Don bat, but maybe I have.” – Aakash Chopra
FAQs related to Cricket Players and Teams
Who is the king of cricket in India?
The title of the king of cricket in India is firmly held by Virat Kohli, who has scored over 23,000 runs in all three international formats.
Who is regarded as the king of cricket captains?
Former Indian cricketer MS Dhoni holds the crown as the king of cricket captains. He led the team to victory in all three major ICC tournaments and had a win percentage of 53.61.
Which team is the king of cricket in the IPL?
Chennai Super Kings, a four-time champion, holds the title of being the king of cricket in the IPL, boasting a win percentage of 59.83.
Who is known as the sixer king of cricket?
Renowned for his power hitting, Chris Gayle from West Indies is recognized as the sixer king of cricket, having hit 553 sixes in his international cricket career.
Who earned the title of king of cricket in 2019?
In 2019, Virat Kohli was crown as the king of cricket due to his exceptional performance. He amassed 2455 runs, including 7 centuries and 14 half-centuries, across all three formats.
Who is currently considered the new king of cricket?
The present king of cricket is none other than Virat Kohli, who has maintained his dominance in the sport with his remarkable skills and performances.
