Top 10 Legendary Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards

Top 10 Legendary Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards

Cricket has long honored excellence through the prestigious ICC Awards, celebrating players who consistently demonstrate skill, dominance, and sportsmanship at the highest level. These accolades recognize performances across all formats—Test, ODI, and T20I—and spotlight the most influential figures in the game. From breakthrough years to decade-defining brilliance, the ICC Awards have become benchmarks of greatness. In this article, we explore the Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards, counting down from number 10 to the ultimate champion. Each player’s journey reflects years of dedication and elite performance that earned them a place among cricket’s most decorated legends.

Here Are The Top 10 Legendary Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards

10. Rahul Dravid (India)

Top 10 Legendary Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards

Rahul Dravid, the legendary Indian batsman known as “The Wall,” earned immense respect for his technique and temperament. In 2004, he became the first cricketer to win both Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year, an incredible feat that speaks to his dominance that year. Dravid amassed nearly 2000 international runs that season, showcasing his all-format excellence. His accolades underline how even low-profile performers like him can top elite lists of Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards. A true ambassador of the game, Dravid’s quiet resilience and match-winning abilities earned him recognition among cricket’s best. He may not have many awards, but the quality of those wins is unmatched.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBatting Avg
5091996–2012245.41

9. Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands)

Ryan ten Doeschate is the most awarded associate player in ICC history. With three ICC Associate Player of the Year titles (2008, 2010, 2011), he elevated Netherlands cricket on the global stage. His outstanding batting average of 67 in ODIs is a testament to his consistent excellence. Among the Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards, his name may surprise many, but his class was undeniable. Ten Doeschate brought professionalism, leadership, and grace to the associate circuit. He often outperformed full-member players, proving that talent knows no borders. His performances in ICC tournaments, especially against top-tier nations, turned heads and raised expectations for associate cricket worldwide.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBatting Avg
572006–2011367.00

8. AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Top 10 Legendary Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards

AB de Villiers—“Mr. 360”—was a revolution in limited-overs cricket. He won three ICC ODI Player of the Year awards (2010, 2014, 2015), making him a legend in the format. His 360-degree shot-making and explosive strike rate made him a nightmare for bowlers. Among the Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards, few have entertained and innovated like him. In 2015, his 150 off 64 balls against West Indies broke records and minds alike. His blend of flair, power, and technical brilliance ensured his dominance during the peak of South Africa’s cricketing might. AB’s versatility made him ICC’s favorite for ODI recognition in his prime years.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBatting Avg
4202004–2018350.66

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7. Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Top 10 Legendary Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards

Babar Azam has redefined consistency for Pakistan in the modern era. With three ICC awards (ICC Cricketer of the Year 2022 and ODI Player of the Year in 2021 & 2022), Babar cemented his place among Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards. His calm demeanor, technically sound stroke play, and ability to anchor innings in all formats make him one of the world’s best. In back-to-back years, Babar ruled the ODI format, amassing hundreds with a high average. He represents a new era of Pakistani greatness, often being compared to elite names globally. As his career progresses, he’s expected to climb even higher on this prestigious list.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBatting Avg
2902015–2025354.12

6. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)

Top 10 Legendary Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards

Fearsome, fiery, and unforgettable—Mitchell Johnson was pace incarnate. He won Cricketer of the Year twice (2009, 2014) and also bagged the Test Cricketer of the Year in 2014 for his Ashes carnage. Among the Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards, Johnson’s name stands tall as one of the few fast bowlers to dominate consistently. His left-arm thunderbolts left batsmen bewildered. That 2013–14 Ashes series in particular elevated him to a mythical status. Known for breaking partnerships and bones, Johnson turned matches single-handedly. His impact went beyond statistics—it was psychological warfare. His ICC recognition was well deserved and a testament to his destructiveness.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBowling Avg
2562005–2015327.13

5. Ricky Ponting (Australia)

Ricky Ponting, one of the most successful captains in history, ruled world cricket during Australia’s golden era. He won Cricketer of the Year twice (2006, 2007) and Test Cricketer of the Year once. His leadership, batting grit, and aggression made him a cornerstone of the Aussie dominance. As one of the top Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards, Ponting was known for delivering on the biggest stages. Whether it was World Cups or Ashes, he was always in control. His back-to-back ICC honors reflected his consistency and hunger. Punter was not just a great captain; he was a run-machine with unshakable confidence.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBatting Avg
5601995–2012345.95

4. Steve Smith (Australia)

Steve Smith transitioned from a leg-spinner to one of the best Test batters in the world. With four ICC awards, including multiple Test Cricketer of the Year titles and the Test Player of the Decade (2011–2020), Smith carved his name into cricket history. Among the Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards, he stands as Australia’s modern Test titan. His odd technique yielded extraordinary results, especially in Ashes contests. Smith’s resilience, mental strength, and unorthodox method made him an ICC favorite. From being a backup spinner to dominating batting charts globally, his journey is one of modern cricket’s best stories.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBatting Avg
3152010–2025452.13

3. MS Dhoni (India)

MS Dhoni, India’s captain cool, brought a calm leadership style mixed with fierce batting and brilliant finishing. He won back-to-back ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009, the Spirit of Cricket Award (2011), and the Spirit of Cricket Decade Award. As one of the most beloved Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards, Dhoni combined sportsmanship and performance at the highest level. His fair play—like recalling Ian Bell after a run-out—highlighted his character. Dhoni also led India to all three ICC trophies. Beyond the stats and accolades, his legacy is about vision, integrity, and nerves of steel.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBatting Avg
5382004–2019444.96

2. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Top 10 Legendary Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards

Kumar Sangakkara is Sri Lanka’s cricketing jewel, known for elegance, class, and commitment. He won ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2012 and the ODI Cricketer of the Year twice. Sangakkara’s calm behind the stumps and fluidity with the bat put him among the most respected Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards. During his peak from 2011–2013, he was arguably the world’s best across formats. His match-winning hundreds and flawless wicket-keeping were instrumental in Sri Lanka’s sustained competitiveness. Sangakkara’s ICC recognitions are not just for stats but for raising cricket’s aesthetic quotient. He brought poetry to performance.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBatting Avg
5942000–2015446.77

1. Virat Kohli (India)

Top 10 Legendary Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards

Virat Kohli, the icon of modern cricket, leads all Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards with 10 to his name. He’s the only player to win all three major awards in a single year (2018): Cricketer of the Year, ODI Player, and Test Player. He was also named Cricketer and ODI Cricketer of the Decade for 2011–2020. His 1377 ODI runs in 2023 and his 50th century highlight his ongoing brilliance. Kohli’s intensity, hunger, and passion define Indian cricket’s new era. No one has matched his versatility across formats with such sustained excellence. A titan of the game, Kohli is not just awarded—he’s celebrated globally.

MatchesSpanICC AwardsBatting Avg
5222008–20251054.11

FAQs:

❓1. Who holds the record for the most ICC awards in cricket history?

Virat Kohli holds the record for the most ICC awards in men’s cricket history, with 10 individual ICC awards including Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year, and ODI Cricketer of the Decade.

❓2. Has any player ever won all three major ICC awards in a single year?

Yes. Virat Kohli is the only player to win all three major ICC awards—Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year, and ODI Player of the Year—in 2018, a historic feat unmatched in cricket history.

❓3. Who is the most awarded bowler among cricketers with the most ICC awards?

Mitchell Johnson is the most awarded bowler among the Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards, having won Cricketer of the Year twice and Test Cricketer of the Year for his dominant performances in 2009 and 2014.

❓4. Which associate player has won the most ICC awards?

Ryan ten Doeschate of the Netherlands has won the ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year award three times (2008, 2010, 2011), making him the most awarded associate nation cricketer.

❓5. How many Indian cricketers appear in the top 10 cricketers with the most ICC awards?

There are four Indian cricketers—Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar (honorary)—who appear in the top 10 list of Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards, showcasing India’s dominant presence in international cricket.

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