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In this post, we will check out the top 10 most popular cricketers in the world in 2023.

Cricket is a sport that is loved and followed by millions of people around the world. It has a rich history and has produced many legendary players over the years.

In 2023, the popularity of cricket continues to grow, and there are several players who have captured the hearts of fans all over the globe.

In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 most popular cricketers in the world in 2023. These players have not only made a name for themselves on the cricket field but have also become household names due to their off-field activities and social media presence.

From Indian superstar Virat Kohli to West Indies’ all-rounder Andre Russell, these players have a massive following on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter, and their popularity is not just limited to their respective countries.

They have become global icons and are loved and admired by fans from all over the world. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 10 most popular cricketers in the world in 2023.

Top 10 Most Popular Cricketers In The World 2023

10. Brett Lee

Brett Lee is the 10th most popular cricketer in the world. He is a former Australian international cricketer and represented Australia in all forms of the game: Tests, ODIs, and Twenty20 Internationals.

Lee ended his Test career with 310 wickets, and his One Day International career with 380 wickets. He is Regarded as one of the best bowlers of his generation.

Brett Lee was part of the team when the Australian team won the 2003 World Cup. In January 2015, Lee declared his retirement from all forms of the game.

He was identified as the 2nd fastest bowler ever in the history of the game after Shoaib Akhtar. Brett Lee is number 10 in our list of the best 10 most renowned cricketers globally in 2023.

9. Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan was a Sri Lankan cricketer who played for the team in the years 1992 to 2011. He was a right-arm off-break bowler.

Muralitharan is considered one of the best bowlers in cricket history, having taken 800 test wickets with an average of 22.73 and an economy rate of 2.48 during his career span from 1992 to 2011 (Test time).

He is the only bowler in history to take 800 Test wickets and more than 530 One Day International (ODI) wickets.

As of 2022, he has taken more wickets in international cricket than any other bowler in the game. Muralitharan was ranked the greatest Test match bowler by Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanack in 2002.

In 2017, he was the first Sri Lankan cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Muttiah Muralitharan is number 9 on our list of the leading 10 widely recognized cricketers globally in 2023.

8. Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga does not need any introduction in this list. He is the highest wicket-taker in Twenty20 Internationals and has taken more than 100 wickets in this format—the most by any bowler.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest limited-overs bowlers of all time. Malinga captained the Sri Lankan 2014 T20 World Cup-winning side and is the only bowler in history to take 4 wickets in 4 balls twice in international cricket.

Malinga’s strange action and dipping slower ball yorkers are credited with much of his success. He transformed the dynamics and geography of death bowling in limited-overs cricket by bowling his toe-crushing yorkers.

He is the only bowler in the world to have two World Cup hat-tricks, the first bowler to take a double hattrick, the only bowler to have taken three hat-tricks in ODIs, and the only bowler to have two double hattricks.

In September 2021, Malinga announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Lasith Malinga is number 8 on our list of the top 10 most popular cricketers in the world in 2023.

7. Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle is a West Indian cricketer. He is the first person to score a Twenty20 century. Gayle is widely considered one of the greatest batsmen to ever play Twenty20 cricket. 

He played a vital role in the West Indies teams that won the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy, 2012 ICC World Twenty20, and 2016 ICC World Twenty20.

Gayle is the only player to score more than 14000 runs and hit more than 1000 sixes in T20 cricket.

He was awarded the Most Valuable Player in the 2011 Indian Premier League and had the Orange Cap in 2012.

On 23 April 2013, He shattered the record for the fastest-ever T20 hundred in his milestone knock of 175 runs from 66 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the IPL, which is also the highest score ever by a batsman in T20 history.

6. Brian Lara

Brian Charles Lara is a former Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, and Warwickshire cricketer. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.

He holds the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket, with 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994, which is the only quintuple-hundred in first-class cricket history.

Lara also holds the record for the highest individual score in a Test inning after scoring 400 not out at Antigua during the 4th test against England in 2004.

He scored 11,953 runs in Test cricket at an average of 52.89, including 34 centuries and 48 fifties. Brian Lara is number 6 on our list of the most popular ten cricket players worldwide.

5. Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram is a former Pakistani cricketer and captain, who was considered by many cricket experts to be the greatest fast bowler ever to play the game.

He was a left-arm fast bowler, who could bowl with a great swing. Wasim Akram has taken 502 ODI wickets in 356 matches at an average of 23.53, including 6 five-wicket hauls.

He holds the world record for most wickets in List A cricket, with 881, and he is second only to Sri Lankan off-spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of ODI wickets, with 502 in total.

Wasim was rated as the best bowler in the ODI of all time, with a rating of 1223.5, ahead of Allan Donald, Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Joel Garner, Glenn McGrath, and Muralitharan.

4. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni is one of the top-rated 10 most famous cricketers globally. He plays for Chennai Super Kings and is a right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper.

He also captained the Indian cricket team from 2007 to 2015. Dhoni has been successful throughout his career with a number of records under his belt.

He’s scored over 10,000 runs at an average over 50, made more than 300 dismissals as a wicketkeeper, scored many centuries, and won several titles with the club and the country.

His popularity can be attributed to several factors: he’s considered one of India’s best captains ever; he has been part of CSK since 2008; he’s known for his calm demeanor on the field despite being under pressure, and he’s often seen doing magic tricks off the field during breaks between innings!

He guided the team to three ICC trophies including the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

3. Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar is a Pakistani former cricketer and commentator. He is nicknamed the “Rawalpindi Express” and was the first bowler to be recorded bowling at 100 miles per hour, a feat he accomplished twice in his career.

Akhtar made his Test match debut in November 1997 as an opening fast bowler and played his first One Day International three months later.

He has gained his place as one of the fastest and most feared bowlers in the history of international cricket. Akhtar retired from international cricket after the 2011 World Cup. Shoaib Akhtar is number 3 in our list of the top 10 most popular cricketers in the world.

2. Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi is a former Pakistani cricketer and captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. An all-rounder, Afridi was a right-handed leg spinner and a right-handed batsman.

Afridi made his ODI debut in 1996, his Test debut in 1998, and his T20I debut in 2006. Afridi was player of the match in the final of the 2009 T20 World Cup scoring a blistering unbeaten 54.

He has also been the player of the tournament in the 2007 edition. He has earned praise from cricket pundits for his fierce batting style.

He holds the record for the fastest ODI century in just 37 balls against Sri Lanka which was later broken by AB De Villiers against West Indies.

He also holds the record for maximum sixes (323) and the longest six in ODI. Afridi is the only cricketer in ODI history to score more than 7000 runs as well as take more than 350 wickets.

1. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is a former Indian cricketer and is considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time in cricket history.

He is the all-time highest run-scorer in both ODI and Test Format with more than 18000 runs and 15000 runs respectively in total. 

He also holds the record for receiving the most Man-of-the-match awards in International Cricket in all forms of the game.

In 2010, Time magazine included Tendulkar in its annual Time 100 list as one of the most influential people in the world.

Tendulkar played 664 international cricket matches in total, scoring 34,357 runs. In 2019 he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Sachin Tendulkar tops the list of the top 10 most popular cricketers in the world.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our list of the Top 10 Most Popular Cricketers In The World. We tried to pick the best and most popular cricketers around the world so that you can see how they compare with each other.

All of these players have been amazing at what they do, and they are all worthy of being on this list!