The sport of cricket is globally one of the most popular. It is played by countries all over the world, with an infinite fan following. The game has seen some great players over the years, who have thrilled fans with their performances on the field. In this blog, we will take a look at 10 of the best cricketers in the world today. These are players who have dominated the sport in recent years and are sure to entertain fans for years to come. From all-rounders to specialists, these are the cricketers that you should keep an eye on in the coming years.
Virat Kohli
Arguably one of the best batsmen in the world, Virat Kohli is the current captain of the Indian national team. He is a right-handed batsman and often regarded as one of the finest fielders in modern cricket. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2008 against Sri Lanka and was India’s leading run-scorer in the 2011 Cricket World Cup. In early 2012, he became vice-captain of the ODI team and took over as captain after Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s retirement from Tests in late 2014.India won the 2016 Asia Cup and 2016 ICC World Twenty20, under his captaincy. In October 2018, he became the first cricketer to top the Forbes list of richest athletes with an estimated annual income of $28 million.
Steve Smith
Steve Smith is an Australian cricketer and the current captain of the Australian Test team. He is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world, and was ranked the top Test batsman in the world by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2015.
In 2008, Smith made his first-class debut for New South Wales, and in 2010, played his first Test match for Australia. He quickly established himself as a regular member of the Australian Test team and was part of the team that won the 2010–11 Ashes series. He has also played for Australia in One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket.
A right-handed batsman, Smith is known for his elegant batting style and use of innovative shot-making. He is an excellent fielder, particularly close to the wicket. In 2014, he was named ICC Test Player of the Year, and he has twice been named Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World.
Joe Root
Joe Root is an English cricketer who is the captain of the England Test team. He is considered one of the best batsmen in the world and is currently ranked as the second-best Test batsman in the world by the ICC.
Root made his debut for England in 2012 and has since played a key role in their Test team. He has scored 5,490 runs in 111 Test matches at an average of 49.9, including 19 centuries and 28 half-centuries. He has also scored 3,349 runs in 138 One Day Internationals (ODIs) at an average of 47.7, including 11 centuries and 20 half-centuries.
In addition to his batting prowess, Root is also a handy bowler and has taken 85 wickets in Test matches and 31 wickets in ODIs. He is considered one of the all-rounders in the game and is often compared to greats like Sir Ian Botham and Kapil Dev.
Root was appointed as England’s Test captain in 2017 and has led the team to some notable victories, including a series win against Australia Down Under. He was also instrumental in England’s victory over India in 2018, where they won the five-match series 4-1.
Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson is one of the top cricketers in the world. The New Zealand batsman is currently ranked number two in the world by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Williamson has been in excellent form over the past few years, scoring centuries in all three formats of the game. He was also named the ICC Test Player of the Year in 2015.
The 26-year-old has a bright future ahead of him and is currently one of the best cricketers in the world, of course.
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is an English all-rounder who plays for Durham and England. He is a left-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler. Stokes made his Test debut against Australia in 2013 and played a pivotal role in England’s Ashes victory that year. He was named man of the match in the Third Test at Old Trafford, taking 6 wickets for 99 runs in the second innings as England won by 14 runs.
Stokes has been instrumental in Durham’s County Championship successes in 2013 and 2016. In the latter year, he scored 1,258 runs at an average of 60.38, making him the leading run-scorer in Division One as Durham were crowned champions. His performances earned him a place in the 2016 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.
In July 2016, Stokes was arrested on suspicion of causing bodily harm after an incident outside a Bristol nightclub. He was released on bail pending further investigation but was not charged with any offense.
Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada is a South African cricketer who plays all three formats of the game. He is currently ranked as the world’s No. 1 Test bowler and is also a top-10 ranked ODI and T20I bowler. Rabada made his Test debut in November 2015 against India and took his maiden five-wicket haul in his second Test match, finishing with match figures of 11/150. This was also South Africa’s best bowling performance away from home since Dale Steyn’s 12/127 against Australia in 2008. In February 2017, Rabada was ranked as the number one Test bowler in the world, becoming the youngest bowler to ever achieve this feat. He has taken 150 wickets in just 28 Test matches at an average of 22.09, making him one of the most successful bowlers in recent years.
Rabada has been praised for his ability to consistently hit good lengths and generate seam movement both off the pitch and through the air. He has been described as “one of the most complete fast bowlers in world cricket” and is known for his aggressive bowling style.