In One Day cricket (ODIs), some players are good at batting. Some are good at bowling. But a few special players are great at both they are called all-rounders.
All-rounders are very important in a team. They help by scoring runs and taking wickets. When the team is in trouble, they often save the game. They can hit big shots or break strong partnerships with the ball.
In this article, we’ll talk about the best ODI all-rounders in cricket history. These players worked hard, played with heart, and gave fans many great moments. Their amazing skills still inspire young cricketers all over the world.
“Let’s find out who are the greatest ODI all-rounders and how they made cricket history.”
| Rank | Player | Country | Career Span | Test Runs | Test Wkts | ODI Runs | ODI Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 1995–2014 | 13,289 | 292 | 11,579 | 273 |
| 2 | Sir Garfield Sobers | West Indies | 1954–1974 | 8,032 | 235 | N/A | N/A |
| 3 | Imran Khan | Pakistan | 1971–1992 | 3,807 | 362 | 3,709 | 182 |
| 4 | Sir Ian Botham | England | 1977–1992 | 5,200 | 383 | 2,113 | 145 |
| 5 | Kapil Dev | India | 1978–1994 | 5,248 | 434 | 3,783 | 253 |
| 6 | Richard Hadlee | New Zealand | 1973–1990 | 3,124 | 431 | 1,751 | 158 |
| 7 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 1989–2011 | 6,973 | 98 | 13,430 | 323 |
| 8 | Andrew Flintoff | England | 1998–2009 | 3,845 | 226 | 3,394 | 169 |
| 9 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 1995–2008 | 3,781 | 421 | 3,519 | 393 |
| 10 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 2006–Present | 4,600+ | 240+ | 7,570+ | 317+ |
1. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
- Career Span: 1995–2014
- Tests: 13,289 runs @ 55.37, 292 wickets @ 32.65
- ODIs: 11,579 runs @ 44.36, 273 wickets @ 31.79
Jacques Kallis is one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history. He scored over 10,000 runs and took more than 250 wickets in both Test matches and ODIs. That’s something no other all-rounder has ever done. He was strong with the bat, smart with the ball, and always calm on the field. His amazing skills in both batting and bowling made him a true legend of the game.
2. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies)
- Career Span: 1954–1974
- Tests: 8,032 runs @ 57.78, 235 wickets @ 34.03
Sir Garry Sobers is known as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history. He was an amazing batsman, a smart bowler, and a fast fielder. He could do everything! Once, he even hit six sixes in one over—a record at that time. Many people, even the great Sir Don Bradman, said he was the most complete cricketer ever. Sobers showed the world what a true all-rounder really looks like.
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3. Imran Khan (Pakistan)
- Career Span: 1971–1992
- Tests: 3,807 runs @ 37.69, 362 wickets @ 22.81
- ODIs: 3,709 runs @ 33.41, 182 wickets @ 26.61
Imran Khan was one of the best all-rounders in cricket history. He could bowl very fast and also score important runs. In 1992, he helped Pakistan win their first Cricket World Cup. But Imran was not just a great player—he was also a strong leader who guided his team with confidence. Many young cricketers still look up to him as a hero and role model.
4. Sir Ian Botham (England)
- Career Span: 1977–1992
- Tests: 5,200 runs @ 33.54, 383 wickets @ 28.40
- ODIs: 2,113 runs @ 23.21, 145 wickets @ 28.54
Ian Botham was one of England’s most famous cricketers. During the 1981 Ashes series, he played so well that people still call it “Botham’s Ashes.” He was a bold batsman who loved to hit big shots and a fast bowler who took many wickets. Botham showed how a player who can bat and bowl can change a game and become a true hero.
5. Kapil Dev (India)
- Career Span: 1978–1994
- Tests: 5,248 runs @ 31.05, 434 wickets @ 29.64
- ODIs: 3,783 runs @ 23.79, 253 wickets @ 27.45
Kapil Dev was a superstar in Indian cricket. In 1983, he led India to win their very first Cricket World Cup. He could hit big runs and take lots of wickets, making him a real game-changer. Kapil took over 500 wickets and scored nearly 9,000 runs in his career. His strong spirit and all-round skills made him a true legend for Indian fans.
6. Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
- Career Span: 1973–1990
- Tests: 3,124 runs @ 27.16, 431 wickets @ 22.29
- ODIs: 1,751 runs @ 21.61, 158 wickets @ 21.56
Sir Richard Hadlee was a star cricketer from New Zealand. He was a top swing bowler and could also score runs when the team needed them. Hadlee became the first bowler to take 400 wickets in Test matches. He helped New Zealand become stronger in world cricket and is still remembered as one of their best players.
7. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
- Career Span: 1989–2011
- ODIs: 13,430 runs @ 32.36, 323 wickets @ 36.75
Sanath Jayasuriya changed the way one-day cricket was played. In the 1996 World Cup, he hit the ball hard and fast at the start of the game, helping Sri Lanka win many matches. He was also a clever left-arm spin bowler. His strong batting and bowling made him one of the most important players in ODI history.
8. Andrew Flintoff (England)
- Career Span: 1998–2009
- Tests: 3,845 runs @ 31.77, 226 wickets @ 32.78
- ODIs: 3,394 runs @ 32.01, 169 wickets @ 24.38
Andrew Flintoff was one of England’s most exciting cricketers. In the 2005 Ashes, he helped his team win with powerful batting and fast, fiery bowling. He gave his best in every match and never gave up. Even though injuries ended his career early, fans still remember him as a true hero of English cricket.
9. Shaun Pollock (South Africa)
- Career Span: 1995–2008
- Tests: 3,781 runs @ 32.31, 421 wickets @ 23.11
- ODIs: 3,519 runs @ 26.45, 393 wickets @ 24.50
Shaun Pollock was one of South Africa’s most trusted players. He bowled with good speed and control and also scored runs when his team needed them. Pollock played well in both Test and ODI matches and was a calm and smart leader. For over 10 years, he was a key part of the South African team.
10. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
- Career Span: 2006–Present
- ODIs: 7,570+ runs, 317+ wickets
- Tests: 4,600+ runs, 240+ wickets
Shakib Al Hasan is the best cricketer Bangladesh has ever had. He is known for his smart batting and clever bowling in all formats of the game. In the 2019 World Cup, he scored 606 runs and took 11 wickets—one of the best all-round performances in World Cup history. Shakib has been ranked the top all-rounder many times and is a proud star for his country.
