Choosing the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket is one of the toughest and most exciting debates in all of sports. For over a century, fans have argued about who stands as the ultimate master of the willow. How do you compare a legend from the 1930s with a modern-day T20 superstar?
It’s a challenge, but some players’ greatness is so immense that they rise above the rest. Our list for 2025 is based on several key factors: statistics (runs, average, centuries), consistency across different eras and formats, their impact on the game, and their ability to win matches under pressure.
So, let’s dive into the ultimate list of the 11 best batsmen the world has ever seen.
11 Best Batsmen In The World All Time
1. Sir Donald Bradman (Australia)
No list of great batsmen can start with anyone else. Sir Don Bradman is not just a cricketer; he is a sporting phenomenon. His statistics are so far ahead of everyone else’s that it seems almost unreal.
Why he is on the list: Bradman’s greatness is captured in one magical number: his Test batting average of 99.94. This means he was just four runs short of averaging 100 every time he went out to bat. To put this in perspective, most all-time greats have an average between 50 and 60. He was a machine built for scoring runs and dominated the sport like no one before or since.
- Key Stat: Test Batting Average of 99.94
2. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
For many, Sachin Tendulkar is the “God of Cricket.” For 24 years, he carried the hopes of a billion people every time he walked out to bat. His career was defined by incredible longevity, record-breaking stats, and a near-perfect technique.
Tendulkar holds two of the most prestigious records in cricket: the most runs in both Test and ODI formats, and the only player to score 100 international centuries. He faced legendary bowlers from different generations and succeeded against them all, making him a true master of his craft.
- Key Stat: 100 international centuries
3. Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies)
Before T20 cricket made aggressive batting normal, there was Sir Viv Richards. He was the original “Master Blaster,” a batsman who dominated bowlers with sheer confidence and power. He walked to the crease without a helmet and chewed gum, daring the fastest bowlers to challenge him.
Viv Richards changed the game. He showed that you could attack and dominate in any format. His swagger and fear-inducing style made him the most feared batsman of his generation. He had a fantastic average and won two World Cups for the West Indies.
- Key Stat: Scored an ODI century at a strike rate of over 135 back in the 1980s.
4. Virat Kohli (India)
The king of the modern era, Virat Kohli has established himself as an all-time great. With incredible fitness, passion, and a hunger for runs, Kohli has shattered records across all three formats of the game.
Kohli is arguably the greatest batsman ever in chasing a target in ODIs. His ability to perform under pressure is second to none. With over 80 international centuries to his name (as of 2025), a Test average over 50, and an ODI average close to 60, his numbers are simply phenomenal.
- Key Stat: The fastest player to score 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, and 13,000 runs in ODIs.
5. Brian Lara (West Indies)
If batting were an art, Brian Lara would be its Picasso. The left-handed genius from Trinidad was known for his elegant, high-backlift style and his ability to play marathon innings. When he was in form, he was simply unstoppable.
Lara holds the record for the highest individual score in both Test cricket (400 not out) and first-class cricket (501 not out). This proves his immense concentration and appetite for huge scores. He could take the game away from the opposition single-handedly.
- Key Stat: The only batsman to score 400 in a single Test innings.
6. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
Often called the greatest all-rounder in history, Jacques Kallis makes this list for his batting alone. He was the rock of South Africa’s batting lineup for nearly two decades. His technique was almost flawless, and his temperament was unshakable.
Kallis scored over 10,000 runs in both Test and ODI cricket. He has the second-most centuries in Test history after Sachin Tendulkar. His consistency and ability to be the team’s anchor were incredible.
- Key Stat: 45 Test centuries and 17 ODI centuries.
7. Ricky Ponting (Australia)
As the captain of the dominant Australian team of the 2000s, Ricky Ponting led from the front. He was an aggressive, stylish, and fearless batsman who loved to take on the opposition’s best bowlers, especially with his signature pull shot.
Ponting is a three-time World Cup winner (twice as captain). He is Australia’s leading run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs and sits third on the all-time list for most international centuries. He was a true match-winner.
- Key Stat: 41 Test centuries and 30 ODI centuries.
8. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
Elegance, grace, and consistency. Kumar Sangakkara was a beautiful left-handed batsman and a true gentleman of the game. As a batsman and wicket-keeper, he was the pillar of Sri Lankan cricket for over 15 years.
Sangakkara’s stats are breathtaking. He is the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs and has an incredible Test average of over 57. In 2014, he scored a triple-hundred and a hundred in the same Test match.
- Key Stat: The first and only player to score four consecutive centuries in a World Cup (2015).
9. Steve Smith (Australia)
Steve Smith is a modern-day genius with an unorthodox but incredibly effective batting style. After starting his career as a leg-spinner, he transformed into one of the best Test batsmen the world has ever seen, often being compared to Don Bradman.
Smith’s record in Test cricket is astonishing. For a long period, his Test average was second only to Bradman’s. His ability to solve problems and score runs in all conditions, especially in the Ashes against England, makes him a true great.
- Key Stat: One of the fastest batsmen to reach 9,000 Test runs.
10. AB de Villiers (South Africa)
Known as “Mr. 360,” AB de Villiers changed what people thought was possible in batting. He could hit the ball to any part of the ground from any position, making him a nightmare for bowlers, especially in limited-overs cricket.
De Villiers holds the records for the fastest 50, 100, and 150 in ODI history. He combined a classical technique with unbelievable innovation, making him arguably the most complete batsman of his generation.
- Key Stat: Fastest ODI century in history (off just 31 balls).
11. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies)
Like Jacques Kallis, Sir Garry Sobers is widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder ever. He could do everything—bowl fast, bowl spin, and was a brilliant fielder. But his batting alone was enough to make him a legend.
Why he is on the list: Sobers was an elegant and powerful left-handed batsman. He was the first player in history to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket. His then-world record score of 365 not out stood for 36 years.
- Key Stat: His first Test century was a massive score of 365 not out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why is Sir Don Bradman considered the best by such a large margin? A: Sir Don Bradman’s Test batting average of 99.94 is statistically so far ahead of any other player in history that it puts him in a category of his own. The next best average for a batsman with a long career is in the low 60s.
Q2: Who is considered the best batsman in the modern era (2015-2025)? A: While it’s debatable, most fans and experts would point to Virat Kohli for his dominance across all three formats and record-breaking consistency. Steve Smith’s incredible Test record also puts him in the conversation.
Q3: Why are great players like Rahul Dravid or Babar Azam not on this list? A: Players like Rahul Dravid (“The Wall”) and modern stars like Babar Azam and Kane Williamson are undoubtedly cricket legends. However, a list of only 11 is incredibly difficult to make. The players on this list are chosen for their extraordinary stats and game-changing impact, making the competition extremely tough.
Q4: Who has scored the most runs in all of international cricket? A: Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in international cricket, with 34,357 runs combined across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Q5: Besides stats, what makes a batsman truly “great”? A: Greatness is also measured by a player’s ability to perform under pressure, win matches for their country, adapt to different conditions around the world, and inspire a generation of future cricketers. All the players on this list did that.
