This curated best Cricketers list blends ICC standings with recent tournament impact and overall skill. It’s meant for fans, debates and quick scouting.
Top 5 Batsmen (World)
Virat Kohli — India
Run-chase maestro with unmatched consistency and temperament. Remains a pillar in ODIs while still decisive in T20Is and valuable in Tests. Elite fitness and pressure finishing separate him from peers.
Joe Root — England
Technically supreme in red-ball cricket with marathon concentration and range against spin. Keeps scoring big hundreds away and at home; white-ball game remains stable and adaptable.
Kane Williamson — New Zealand
Calm, classical stroke-maker; a benchmark for control and decision-making. Converts starts into match-defining knocks and anchors chases with minimal risk.
Babar Azam — Pakistan
Silky timing and superb off-side play. Among the most consistent top-order batters in limited-overs; improving red-ball record with long stays at the crease.
Steve Smith — Australia
Unorthodox but relentlessly effective. Exceptional hand-eye coordination, occupies the crease for long spells, and repeatedly delivers in high-pressure series.
| Rank | Player | Country | Format Strength | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | ODI & T20I | Run-chase maestro; consistent across formats |
| 2 | Joe Root | England | Tests | Technically supreme; marathon innings player |
| 3 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | Tests & ODIs | Calm stroke-maker; anchors innings |
| 4 | Babar Azam | Pakistan | ODIs & T20Is | Silky timing; consistent top-order runs |
| 5 | Steve Smith | Australia | Tests | Unorthodox but effective; big-match player |
Top 5 Bowlers (World)
Jasprit Bumrah — India
Searing pace, vicious seam movement and the most reliable yorker in cricket. Wins powerplay, middle and death overs—rare, three-phase dominance.
Pat Cummins — Australia
Relentless accuracy at high pace with steep bounce. Leader who swings matches with timely bursts; handy lower-order runs add value.
Kagiso Rabada — South Africa
Explosive strike bowler: new-ball threat and master of reverse swing later on. Proven record against top batting lineups at home and away.
Rashid Khan — Afghanistan
Fast-arm leggie with unreadable googly; economy breaker in T20s and increasingly influential in ODIs. Adds lower-order hitting and sharp fielding.
Shaheen Shah Afridi — Pakistan
Towering left-arm quick; late swing at high speed that uproots top orders early. Big-tournament performer with wicket-taking bursts.
| Rank | Player | Country | Bowling Style | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | Right-arm Fast | All-phase dominance; elite yorkers |
| 2 | Pat Cummins | Australia | Right-arm Fast | Accuracy, bounce; match-turning bursts |
| 3 | Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | Right-arm Fast | Strike bowler; reverse swing master |
| 4 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | Leg-spin | Unplayable googly; T20 economy breaker |
| 5 | Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | Left-arm Fast | New-ball swing; big-tournament impact |
Top 5 Wicketkeepers (World)
Jos Buttler — England
Explosive hitter with 360° scoring and safe hands. Opens or finishes with equal impact; leadership and white-ball instincts are world-class.
Mohammad Rizwan — Pakistan
Relentless accumulator who bats deep; terrific game management in chases. Sharp glovework to pace and spin alike.
Rishabh Pant — India
Counter-attacking left-hander who flips sessions with audacious strokeplay; lightning reflexes standing up and athletic takes down leg.
Quinton de Kock — South Africa
Free-flowing opener with blistering starts; proven big-tournament record. Experienced, safe wicketkeeper with soft hands.
Heinrich Klaasen — South Africa
Spin-destroyer and elite pace finisher; hits length hard and clears long boundaries. Competent with the gloves; immense strike-rate impact.
| Rank | Player | Country | Format Strength | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jos Buttler | England | T20I & ODI | Elite finisher; explosive hitter; leader |
| 2 | Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | T20I | Anchor in chases; sharp glovework |
| 3 | Rishabh Pant | India | Tests | Counter-attacking; lightning reflexes |
| 4 | Quinton de Kock | South Africa | ODIs & T20 | Fast starts; safe, soft hands |
| 5 | Heinrich Klaasen | South Africa | ODI/T20 middle order | Spin destroyer; strike-rate beast |
Top 5 All-rounders (World)
Ravindra Jadeja — India
Three-dimensional: high-value wickets with left-arm spin, crucial middle-order runs, and game-changing fielding. Balance-giver in every XI.
Ben Stokes — England
Clutch specialist—heroics in multi-day epics and white-ball finals. Hits long, bowls heavy lengths, and leads with uncompromising intent.
Shakib Al Hasan — Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s talisman for a decade: reliable middle-order runs plus canny left-arm spin through middle overs; match-up master.
Hardik Pandya — India
Finisher with serious power and useful seam bowling at key phases. Captaincy nous and fielding raise his all-round value in white-ball cricket.
Glenn Maxwell — Australia
Game-breaker: outrageous range with the bat; part-time off-spin that wins match-ups; electric in the field. Momentum shifter on his day.
| Rank | Player | Country | Strength | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravindra Jadeja | India | Spin + Batting + Fielding | 3D impact; game-changing fielding |
| 2 | Ben Stokes | England | All-format clutch | Match-winner in Tests & ICC finals |
| 3 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | Bat + Spin | Consistent talisman; middle-overs control |
| 4 | Hardik Pandya | India | Finishing power | Explosive hitter; seam option at key phases |
| 5 | Glenn Maxwell | Australia | Bat + Part-time spin | Momentum shifter; elite range-hitting |
Methodology (quick)
- Form & impact: Weight on 2023–2025 international series and ICC events.
- All-format value: Test + ODI + T20I relevance; specialists rated by dominance.
- Consistency: Multi-year performance, away records, clutch moments.
- Balance: Pace + spin among bowlers; finishing + glovework for keepers.
If you want this tailored to a single format (e.g., T20I only) or a specific tournament window, I can regenerate the lists accordingly.
FAQ
Why isn’t player X listed?
Shortlists of five are always debatable. Close contenders include Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Mohammed Shami, Litton Das, Ishan Kishan, Cameron Green, Wanindu Hasaranga. Swap-ins depend on the format you value most.
Is this the same as ICC rankings?
No. ICC rankings are a points system. This article blends rankings with recent big-match influence, versatility, and team balance.
