Discover the cricketing icons who have dominated matches and earned the most Man of the Match awards in international cricket. These players have showcased extraordinary performances across formats, leaving an indelible mark on the game with their consistency, skill, and match-winning contributions, solidifying their legacies as true legends of the sport
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar needs no introduction. His extraordinary statistics cement his legacy as one of cricket’s greatest players and most beloved figures. Winning 76 Man of the Match awards over a 24-year career is a testament to his brilliance on the field. At times, he single-handedly carried the Indian team to victory, showcasing his unmatched skill and dedication to the game.
2. Virat Kohli
With 66 Player of the Match awards in his illustrious career, Sachin Tendulkar remains ahead of India’s modern-day batting maestro Virat Kohli, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-format players in cricket history. Kohli has earned the Man of the Match title 10 times in Test cricket, 38 times in ODIs, and 15 times in T20Is—the most by any player in the T20I format. Notably, Kohli is the only cricketer to have won the Man of the Tournament accolade twice in ICC World Cups, achieving this feat in the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups.
Kohli has amassed an impressive 25,582 runs for India, ranking fifth on the all-time international run-scorers list and second among Indian batsmen. While his tally of 76 centuries is unmatched by any current player, it remains second only to Tendulkar’s iconic 100 international hundreds.
3. Sanath Jayasuriya
Ranked third on the list is the legendary Sri Lankan all-rounder and opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya, who earned an impressive 58 Player of the Match awards throughout his career—4 in Test cricket, 48 in ODIs, and 6 in T20Is. With a career spanning from 1989 to 2011, Jayasuriya amassed a remarkable 21,032 international runs and played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s historic triumph at the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
4. Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, boasting remarkable statistics across all formats of the game. Over an illustrious career spanning nearly two decades with the South African national team, Kallis earned an impressive 57 Man of the Match awards. His exceptional contributions encompassed every aspect of the game, from brilliant batting and impactful bowling to dynamic fielding, making him a true cricketing legend.
5. Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara, the legendary Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman, was renowned for his elegance and precision at the crease. His artistry with the bat, particularly his exquisite cover drives, ranks among the finest in cricket history. Despite narrowly missing out on leading Sri Lanka to victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, he redeemed himself by playing a pivotal role in their triumph at the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup.
As a left-handed maestro, Sangakkara’s illustrious career boasts remarkable statistics. He featured in nearly 400 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and amassed an incredible 14,234 runs, the second-highest in ODI cricket. In Tests, he maintained a staggering batting average of 57.40 across 134 matches. Across 594 international appearances, Sangakkara earned 50 man-of-the-match awards, a testament to his consistency and match-winning prowess.