Top 10 Best Batsmen in the World of All Time – Updated Till 2025

Cricket is one of the most interesting and most played sports in the world, with millions of fans across the globe following this sport. Many changes have been made to the rules of cricket since the beginning of this sport, and most of them made batting easier. Batsmen get more appraisal than the bowlers as batsmen are the new faces of cricket. Pitches are also now becoming more batting-friendly than bowling. Batters are now seen as superheroes. In this article, we will cover the all-time best batsman in the world.

Factors of Ranking:

There should be certain criteria on which this ranking has to be done. Because cricket has not been the same. Earlier, there were 2 bouncers allowed in an over, more fielders now have to be inside the 30-yard circle for most of the overs. The rules have been changed and made batting easier than before.

Here are the factors on which we will be ranking the best batters of all time:

• Total Number of matches played :

The total number of matches played will tell about the longevity of a player and how long that player played for his country and in his career. This will also describe how essential the batter was for his team.

• Total Runs score :

The total runs scored by the player should be the factor for selecting the best batters of all time, as this is the primary task of the batters to score runs in a game for the team. 

• Batting Average in different formats : 

The batting average tells about the consistency of any batter, how consistent he has been in their career. A batter can only become an all-time great if he has performed consistently for his entire career.

• Number of centuries scored : 

In cricket, a player is only considered an all-time legend of this game if he has scored many centuries for his team. Cricket is a sport that is obsessed with records and centuries.

Based on the above factors, which are the number of matches played, Total runs scored, career batting average, and Number of centuries scored, we have crafted a list of all-time best batters in the world.

10. Sir Jack Hobbs (England)

Sir Jack Hobbs, who is widely known as “The Master,” comes in the 10th position on the list of the world’s best batsmen with 61 test matches under his belt. He scored a total of 5410 runs with an average of 56.95, which was quite amazing as the rules of cricket were not in the favour of batsmen at that time. He has scored 15 centuries in his career.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Tests	61	5,410	211	56.95	15	28

9. Sir Wally Hammond  (England)

On the 9th position, one more English batter Sir Wally Hammond is there. He made his debut in 1927 against South Africa. He has played a total of 85 test matches in his career in which he has scored 7249 runs with an average of 58.4. He also scored 22 centuries in his career.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Tests	85	7249	336	58.4	22	24

Also Read: Top 10 Best Wicket-Keepers in the World Right Now- 2025

8. Sunil Gavaskar (India)

Sunil Gavaskar was statistically the most successful opening batsman and is perhaps one of the best openers of all time. His batting was distinguished by excellent technique, unwavering focus, and, most significantly, audacious nerve. In an age of the fearsome West Indies pacers, he used to play without a helmet. He did this for 16 years and scored over 10,000 Test runs.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Tests	125	10,122	236	51.12	34	45
ODI	108	3,092	103	35.14	1	27

7. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

One of the most elegant Left-handed batsmen in the world, Kumar Sangakkara comes in the 7th position in this list of the best batsmen in the world. He was an excellent stroke player and the way he played the cover drives during his prime time was one of the most beautiful sights on the cricket ground ever witnessed by the fans and the players as well. Kumar Sangakkara has scored 12000+ runs in both ODIs and Tests with more than 50+ centuries.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Test	134	12,400	319	57.14	38	52
ODI	404	14,234	169	41.99	25	93
T20I	56	1,382	78	31.41	0	8
T20 League	71	1,687	94	25.95	0	10

6. Ricky Ponting (Australia)

One of the best Australian captains ever, Ricky Ponting finds himself in the list of best batsmen ever in the 6th position with more than 500+ international matches for the Australian Team. He has scored more than 27000+ runs for his team. Ponting’s Test average is more than 50. He has scored a total of 71 centuries in his career. His pull shot is called to be the perfect pull shot ever played by any batsman.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Test	168	13,378	257	51.85	41	62
ODI	375	13,704	164	42.04	30	82
T20I	17	401	98	28.64	0	2
T20 League	10	91	28	10.11	0	0

5. Virat Kohli (India)

Indian former captain Virat Kohli is the current world number one batsman and in the list of best batsmen in the world ever he is in the 5th position. He is called the King of Cricket by the fans. He has been the world no 1 batsman in all formats for a very long period of time. He was the only batter to have a 50+ average in all formats of cricket. He has played 500+ matches for the Indian team and scored 27000+ runs across all formats. Virat Kohli has scored the most number of centuries in ODIs with 51 centuries to his name. Recently he became the fastest batsman to reach 14000 runs in ODis.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Test	123	9,230	254	46.85	30	31
ODI	300	14,096	183	58.20	51	73
T20I	125	4,188	122*	48.7	1	38
T20 League	252	8,004	113	38.67	8	55

4. Brian Lara (West Indies)

Brian Lara comes in 4th position, he is the legendary player from the West Indies also considered as the greatest left-hander to have ever played cricket. He played 131 test matches and scored 11953 runs in his career with an average of 52.89. He also scored a total of 34 centuries in his test career. He was one the most talented batsmen ever.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Tests	131	11,953	400	52.89	34	48
ODI	299	10,405	169	40.17	19	63

3. Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies)

Sir Vivian Richards, who is also known as Boss of the Cricket Field, comes in the 3rd position. His batting style was so destructive that bowlers were feared to bowl to him. He has that kind of aura at that time. He introduced a new way of batting in the cricketing world (fearless batting approach). He was so confident about his batting abilities that he never wore the helmet throughout his career. He has played 121 test matches and scored 8540 runs with an average of 50.24. He has also scored 24 centuries in tests.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Tests	121	8,540	291	50.24	24	45
ODI	187	6,721	189	47.0	11	45

2. Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar comes in the 2nd position, he is known as the “God of Cricket“. There was a time when every record related to batting was held by Sachin Tendulkar. He has played 200 test matches and scored 15921 runs with an average of 53.78. He has a total of 51 test centuries to his name, which is the most by any cricketer. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar was the first player to score a double century in ODIs against South Africa. Many records seem impossible to be broken by any other batsman ever. He has a total of 100 centuries to his name including all the formats.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Test	200	15,921	248*	53.78	51	68
ODI	463	18,426	200*	44.83	49	96
T20I	1	10	10	10	0	0
T20 League	78	2334	100	33.83	1	13

Also Read: Top 10 Highest Run Chase in ODI

1. Sir Donald Bradman (Australia)

The greatest Batsman of all time is none other than Sir Donald Bradman from Australia. He has a 20-year-long career. He has been an inspiration to many future stars like Sachin Tendulkar. He played in 52 test matches in his career and scored 6996 runs for his team. His career average is best among all the cricketers with 99.94, which could have been 100 if he hadn’t got out for a golden duck in his last match of the career. He scored a total of 29 centuries for his team.

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Tests	52	6,996	334	99.94	29	13

List of Best Batsmen in the World

S. NO.	Player Name	Total Matches	Total Runs	Total Centuries
1.	Sir Donald Bradman	52	6,996	29
2.	Sachin Tendulkar	664	34,357	100
3	Sir Vivian Richards	308	15,261	35
4.	Brian Lara	431	22,358	53
5.	Virat Kohli	548	27,514	82
6.	Ricky Ponting	560	27,483	71
7.	Kumar Sangakkara	594	28,016	63
8.	Sunil Gavaskar	233	13,218	35
9.	Sir Wally Hammond	85	7,249	22
10.	Sir Jack Hobbes	61	5,410	15