Goat of Cricket - Ranking the All Time Greats | Updated

Cricket has a rich history, and over the years, many greats have taken this beautiful game to new heights. The game originated in England in the 16th century and became popular in several British colonies, including the nations from the subcontinent. The greatest cricket players have taken the game to the next level with their exceptional batting, bowling, and even fielding.

In the earlier times, there were legendary players like Viv Richards, Sunil Gavaskar, Zaheer Abbas, and many others who dominated the sport. In the next generation, Sachin Tendulkar made a name and broke several cricketing records alongside players like Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, and Glenn McGrath. The current generation also has a lot of great players like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson, the famous FAB 4 of cricket. All these players are known as ‘GOAT’, which stands for ‘Greatest Of All Time’.

What Makes a Batsman “GOAT” in the World? Ranking Factors:

The list of cricket goats will feature a combined list of players consisting of batters, bowlers, and all-rounders. These cricket goats have shown their worth in the field of cricket, and ranking them is not an easy task. The ranking will be based on various factors, which will include the career stats, match-winning impact, and other accomplishments in their cricketing journey, like records and ICC Trophies as well. While the list might miss some big names, it’s important to note that we have included the top 10 goat cricketers in the world. The ranking factors follow as:

• Career Stats: Career Stats is the main ranking factor to rank the GOAT of cricket, which includes all the matches played and how many runs or wickets are taken in those matches, along with batting or bowling averages of the player throughout the career, strike rate, and economy rate, with which batsman will play or bowler will be bowling well respectively. The number of centuries or five-wicket hauls taken by the bowler is also taken into consideration while ranking goat cricketer.
• Match-Winning Impact: Match-Winning Impact involves how the player has a positive impact throughout the game, whether he has performed well in high-pressure games and has played match-winning innings. This shows how well the player can perform in high-intensity matches and contribution of the player in key matches or tournaments.
• Consistency & Longevity: Consistency & Longevity tell about the players' performing to the best for many years consistently without any fitness issues or injuries. This also tells about the player being at the highest ranking for many years and retaining the particular spot, which shows the player's performance to be the best throughout their career.
• Records Held or Broken: This helps in understanding the number of records broken or created by the particular player in their cricketing career, which helps in creating a legacy of their own and making a mark in the cricket world. This includes the world records or the fastest milestones by the player to reach new heights in cricket.
• ICC Trophies & Team Success: This tells about the player winning the ICC titles throughout their career and the performance they put in those tournaments to win the ICC Trophies. This includes ICC World Cups in all formats and the role of the player in winning the titles.
• Versatility Across Formats: Versatility Across Formats tells us about how well the players can adapt themselves in the various formats where the game is completely changed and varies. This shows the temperament of the player to adjust the game according to the requirement and play well in the respective format, and continue the form. This also includes the adaptability to new conditions, where the player can adjust well to perform in the same manner.
• Leadership & Captaincy: Leadership & Captaincy tells about the captaincy record of the player who has captained their national side and left an impact in winning the matches, as well as the major ICC tournaments. This helps in understanding how well the player possesses their leadership skills and takes the team forward well in cricket, and becomes a successful captain.

Top 10 GOAT of Cricket in the World - Updated List

There are many cricketers who have left their mark in the cricketing world with the skillset they offer to the game. While some current players have earned a spot in the elite list of goat cricketers, such as Virat Kohli, and while some of them are now playing league cricket or have taken coaching as their new profession to be in touch with cricket. Here is the list of the top 10 GOAT of Cricket till now:

Who is the GOAT of Cricket?

It’s not easy to become a ‘GOAT’ when multiple other cricketers are competing with and against you to make their country proud. A cricketer must be at their best in terms of their skills and achievements to become a ‘GOAT of cricket.’ The debate over who to call the GOAT is very old, and it won’t be wrong to say that it’s going to stay forever because there will be more players in the future who will create history and break multiple records to become a GOAT of cricket. Here is the list to determine who is the goat of cricket:

10. MS Dhoni

Mahendra SIngh Dhoni, one of the most successful Indian captains who is considered to be the best wicket-keeper of all time. He is known for his captaincy with calm and exposure as well as the fastest lightning stumping. He is the best behind the stumps; on the other hand, he is great with the bat too, scoring mighty sixes out of the park easily, and he is a renowned finisher. He has played 90 test matches, scoring 4876 runs with an average of 38.09, and in ODIs, he has played 350 matches, scoring 10773 runs with an average of 50.57, and is one of the highest Indian run-scorers. In T20Is, he played 98 matches and scored 1617 runs with an average of 37.60 and a strike rate of 126.13, and played a role as a finisher who comes in the lower order. He was the captain of the Indian Cricket Team who won the inaugural season of the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, the ICC ODI World Cup 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. He was a consistent player throughout his career, showing his skillset in each department.

Batting & Fielding

9. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, the King of cricket, is considered to be the successor of Sachin Tendulkar. He is the masterclass batsman who bats at the number 3, giving reliability and results to the team he plays for. He is known for his dependable game style, strokeplay, where he is famous for his iconic cover drive. He knows how to make runs in all conditions and adapts well, and is considered to be a chasemaster. He has one of the best career stats; he has played 123 test matches, scoring 9230 runs with an average of 46.85, and recently retired from the longest format. In ODIs, he has played 302 matches where he has scored 14181 runs with an impressive average of 57.88, he has hit the most number of centuries in ODIs, passing Sachin Tendulkar. In T20Is, he has played 125 matches and scored 4188 runs with an average of 48.69, and was the highest run scorer in the format until he took retirement. He has a good stint as the captain, where he is the most successful Indian test captain.

Batting & Fielding

8. Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting, a brutal Australian Batsman, is known for his batting as well as captaincy. He has been a gun fielder who has a good record of catches and has made an impact on the field. He has been a successful batsman in Australia after Sir Donald Bradman, and has impressive batting stats. In test cricket, he has scored 13378 runs in 168 matches with an average of 51.85. In ODIs, he has scored 13704 in 375 matches with an average of 42.03, where he had a long ODI career. In T20Is, he has played just 17 matches and scored 401 runs with a strike rate of 132.78. He had a good captaincy career, where he took Australia to successful heights and led them to 26 consecutive undefeated (completed) 50-over World Cup games.

Batting & Fielding

7. Brian Lara

Brian Lara, one of the greatest batsmen in his era, has scored a lot of runs in his career with intent and determination on the field of cricket. He is one of the classic test cricket batsmen who is known for his patience while batting. He has a remarkable record of scoring 400 runs in a test match innings, which is still not broken by any players. He has impressive batting stats, where he has scored 11953 runs in 131 matches with an average of 52.88, along with 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries. In ODIs, he has played a good career of 299 matches, left short by one match to reach the mark of 300, scoring 10405 runs in his ODI career with an average of 40.48. He has been the goat cricketer in the world of cricket.

Batting & Fielding

6. Sir Viv Richards

Sir Viv Richards is a former West Indies cricketer who is renowned for his heroics in cricket. He was a powerful person who charged the bowlers like there’s no tomorrow. If we look at his Test match stats, in 121 games, he has amassed 8540 runs in 121 games, at an average of 50.23. He was also a prominent member of the ODI team, and it wouldn’t be surprising to say that the bowlers were absolutely afraid to face the batter for his fierce batting.

In the ODIs, Richards played 187 games where he scored 6721 runs. Moreover, his average was 47, which is outstanding. He also smashed 24 and 11 centuries in Tests and ODIs, respectively. The West Indies team still takes inspiration from the former player and his tactics to play against some of the best bowlers in the world.

Batting & Fielding

Bowling

5. Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan is a legendary spinner from Sri-Lanka, who has an impressive skillset in spin bowling. He bowls right-arm off-spin with a variety of variations, which makes it difficult to be read by batsmen. He has been under a lot of controversy due to his bowling action, but was eventually cleared. He has been a legendary player in test cricket, where he played 133 matches and took 800 odd wickets, and is the highest wicket-taker in test cricket, with an economy rate of 2.47, and has taken 22 10-wicket hauls and 67 5-wicket hauls. In ODIs, he has played 350 matches, where he has taken 534 wickets with an economy rate of 3.93. In the short career of T20Is, he played just 12 matches, where he took only 13 wickets but with an impressive economy rate of 6.31 as a spinner. He is goat cricketer who spins the ball really well in the world and becomes an inspiration to many cricketers around the globe.

Bowling

4. Shane Warne

It is often said that SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries lack quality spinners. However, Australia’s answer to that was Shane Warner, who ended up becoming the greatest spinner ever to play the game of Cricket. Warne used to get an unimaginable turn with the ball, after which the batters used to be left surprised.

Apart from his bowling prowess, Warne also used to be very aggressive on the field, which surprisingly helped him get wickets. Warne’s numbers with the ball are enough to make him one of the contenders for the cricket GOAT.

Bowling

3. Jacques Kallis

The South African legend, Jacques Kallis, is undoubtedly the greatest ever all-rounder who has ever played the game of Cricket. Kallis has the most decorated stats and numbers in his international career. Whether it’s batting, bowling, or fielding at the slips, he had every skillset to be the GOAT of Cricket. It’s hard to find a player in the current generation who can play all formats and dominate in all of them.

Not just fans, there are multiple legendary players who have recognised Kallis as a cricket GOAT. The records he has made often get ignored, but we can’t ignore the fact that he is one of the biggest contenders to become the GOAT of Cricket.

Batting & Fielding

Bowling

2. Sachin Tendulkar

The Indian batting legend, often called the GOD of cricket by his fans and many experts as well, has achieved almost everything and completed the game before retiring. Saching is the only player who has smashed 100 centuries in his international career, which will remain one of the greatest things in the history of Cricket. He is also the batter with the most runs in international runs. Sachin retired from international cricket in 2013, and the record is still unbroken.

Sachin’s batting records are so unimaginable that his bowling ability gets ignored. He used to be one of the decent spinners in the Indian squad in his time, with a great number of wickets under his name. There are many fans not just in India but across the world who believe that Sachin is definitely the GOAT of cricket.

Batting & Fielding

Bowling

1. Sir Donald Bradman

There should not be any surprises in determining who is the goat of cricket. The Australian legend, Sir Donald Bradman, needs no introduction as his unrealistic numbers speak volumes of his talent and ability. The right-handed batter ended his career with an unimaginable batting average of 99.94 in the Test format. It won’t be wrong to say that there will hardly be any batter who will even think of breaking this record.

Bradman only played the Test format in his international career. He might have more records under his name if there were more formats in his era. However, his first-class numbers are also more than unrealistic. The best FC career one will ever have, without a doubt. The records and stats of Bradman are enough to declare him the GOAT of Cricket.

Batting & Fielding

Who is the GOAT of Cricket in the World Currently 2025-26?

Currently, as the game of cricket is evolving, every player is playing at their best and performing well. The Goat of cricket in the world currently, 2025-26, is none other than Virat Kohli. He has been a tremendous player who has performed well in all three formats of the game with his skill set and created many records, and took the Indian cricket team to the next level. He is currently behind Sachin Tendulkar for scoring the most hundreds in international cricket, and holds the record for scoring the most centuries in ODIs. He has won every ICC trophy and other league trophies in his fruitful career, where he recently won IPL 2025 with RCB. He is the most famous cricket player around the globe and has become an icon to represent cricket across the world.