Most Player of the Match Awards in Cricket (Tests, ODIs & T20Is)

The Player of the Match award goes to the standout performer in a cricket match. It’s for the player who really turns the game around, whether with the bat, the ball, or both. In international cricket, this award means a lot. Pick up a few of these over your career, and people start to notice. It shows you don’t just have talent, you know how to win games, again and again.

Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar won the Player of the Match Award 76 times, followed by Virat Kohli (71), who ranks 2nd on the list, and Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasurya (58), followed by South African All-rounder Jacques Kallis(57). This shows the legacy of these players and how they rule in International Cricket.

Most Player Of The Match Awards (All Formats)

This table shows players with the most Player of the Match awards across all three international cricket formats. The data includes Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20 Internationals (T20Is).

Player	Country	Span	Mat	Total Awards	Tests	ODIs	T20Is
Sachin Tendulkar	India	1989-2013	664	76	14	62	0
Virat Kohli	India	2008-2026	557	71	10	45	16
Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	1989-2011	586	58	4	48	6
Jacques Kallis	South Africa	1995-2014	519	57	23	32	2
Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	2000-2015	594	50	16	31	3
Ricky Ponting	Australia	1995-2012	560	49	16	32	1
Shakib Al Hasan	Bangladesh	2006-2024	447	45	6	27	12
Rohit Sharma	India	2007-2026	506	45	4	27	14
Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	1996-2018	524	43	0	32	11
Brian Lara	West Indies	1990-2007	430	42	12	30	0
Viv Richards	West Indies	1974-1991	308	41	10	31	0
Aravinda de Silva	Sri Lanka	1984-2003	401	41	11	30	0
Chris Gayle	West Indies	1999-2021	483	41	8	23	10
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	1997-2015	652	41	13	22	6
AB de Villiers	South Africa	2004-2018	420	39	5	27	7
Wasim Akram	Pakistan	1984-2003	460	39	17	22	0
David Warner	Australia	2009-2024	383	38	8	18	12
Sourav Ganguly	India	1992-2008	424	37	6	31	0
Adam Gilchrist	Australia	1996-2008	396	35	7	28	0
Steve Waugh	Australia	1985-2004	493	35	14	21	0

Top 10 Players: Player Of The Match Analysis

1. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 76 Awards

Sachin Tendulkar has more Player of the Match awards than anyone else in international cricket. Over his 24-year career, he picked up 62 of them in ODIs and 14 in Tests.

That’s 664 international games, and in so many of them, he just took over. When India needed runs, he delivered. Time and again, he stepped up and won matches with his batting. You could always count on him in the big moments.

2. Virat Kohli (India) – 71 Awards

Virat Kohli sits at number two with 71 Player of the Match awards. He picked up 45 in ODIs, 16 in T20Is, and 10 in Tests. 

What’s wild is, he’s the only guy in the top 10 who’s crushed it in all three formats. And when it comes to chasing runs in limited-overs cricket, Kohli just stands out. He’s one of the best match-winners of this era, no question.

3. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 58 Awards

Sanath Jayasuriya picked up 58 awards over his career. Most of them, 48, to be exact, came in ODIs, where his fearless opening batting really shook things up.

He wasn’t just about smashing the ball, either. His left-arm spin made a real difference, too. Jayasuriya played a significant role in Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup win and continued to deliver match-winning performances for more than 20 years.

4. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 57 Awards

Jacques Kallis isn’t just on this list; he tops it. He racked up 57 awards, more than anyone else. In Tests, he took 23, and in ODIs, he took 32. 

Kallis did everything: smashed runs, took wickets, kept his team in the fight, game after game. South Africa could always count on him, whether he was batting or bowling. That consistency made it impossible to leave out.

5. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 50 Awards

Kumar Sangakkara picked up 50 awards in his career, 31 in ODIs, 16 in Tests, and 3 in T20Is. He wasn’t just a stylish batter; he was also razor-sharp behind the stumps. 

With more than 28,000 international runs, Sangakkara didn’t just play the game; he set a standard. By the time he walked away, he was among the most respected cricketers anywhere.

6. Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 49 Awards

Ricky Ponting picked up 49 awards over his legendary career, 32 in ODIs, 16 in Tests. He didn’t just collect trophies. The Australian team has been unstoppable during its captain’s tenure. The team always looked balanced and well prepared under Ponting’s Captaincy.

As an individual, Batting Performance Ponting always prepares for the best, and his performance afterthe  opening partnership break is always remembered to watch

He led Australia to two World Cup wins and took charge of one of the most dominant cricket teams the world has ever seen. With his fierce batting and sharp fielding, Ponting really did it all.

7. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 45 Awards

Shakib Al Hasan stands out as Bangladesh’s top player, racking up 45 awards, 27 in ODIs, 12 in T20Is, and 6 in Tests. 

He’s a true all-rounder, mixing clever left-arm spin with solid batting in the middle order. Honestly, he’s the backbone of the team. When Bangladesh needs something special, Shakib steps up and gets the job done.

8. Rohit Sharma (India) – 45 Awards

Rohit Sharma has racked up 45 awards, right up there with Shakib Al Hasan. Out of those, 27 came in ODIs and 14 in T20Is. He’s the only guy with three double centuries in ODIs.

People love watching him bat; he makes it look so easy. And when he gets going, he doesn’t just stop at a hundred. That’s what makes him such a dangerous opener in white-ball cricket.

9. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 43 Awards

Shahid Afridi picked up 43 awards in his career, 32 in ODIs and another 11 in T20Is. Test matches, never grabbed an award there.

Still, he ruled limited-overs cricket with that wild batting and sharp leg-spin. People loved how he’d walk in, swing big, and flip a game in just a few overs. You couldn’t ignore him. His bold style and energy turned him into a fan favorite wherever he played.

10. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 42 Awards

Brian Lara picked up 42 awards, 30 in ODIs, 12 in Tests. He still owns the record for the highest score in Test cricket, 400 not out. Back then, Lara stood out as the best batsman around.

Honestly, he carried the West Indies batting lineup so many times, it’s almost unbelievable. The way he played so smoothly, so effortlessly, and those clutch innings where he saved the match, you just don’t forget stuff like that.

Most Player Of The Match Awards In Test Cricket

Test cricket awards the title to players who perform consistently over five days. All-rounders and bowlers dominate this list because they can influence matches with both bat and ball.

Player	Country	Span	Matches	Awards
Jacques Kallis	South Africa	1995-2013	166	23
Muttiah Muralitharan	Sri Lanka	1992-2010	133	19
Wasim Akram	Pakistan	1985-2002	104	17
Shane Warne	Australia	1992-2007	145	17
Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	2000-2015	134	16
Ricky Ponting	Australia	1995-2012	168	16
Curtly Ambrose	West Indies	1988-2000	98	14
Steve Waugh	Australia	1985-2004	168	14
Sachin Tendulkar	India	1989-2013	200	14
Steve Smith	Australia	2010-2026	123	13
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	1997-2014	149	13
Joe Root	England	2012-2026	163	13
Ian Botham	England	1977-1992	102	12
Graeme Smith	South Africa	2002-2014	117	12
Ben Stokes	England	2013-2026	120	12

Most Player Of The Match Awards In ODI Cricket

ODI cricket rewards batters who score big runs and win matches for their teams. Opening batters and middle-order players dominate this format with their consistent performances.

Player	Country	Span	Matches	Awards
Sachin Tendulkar	India	1989-2012	463	62
Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	1989-2011	445	48
Virat Kohli	India	2008-2026	309	45
Jacques Kallis	South Africa	1996-2014	328	32
Ricky Ponting	Australia	1995-2012	375	32
Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	1996-2015	398	32
Viv Richards	West Indies	1975-1991	187	31
Sourav Ganguly	India	1992-2007	311	31
Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	2000-2015	404	31
Brian Lara	West Indies	1990-2007	299	30
Aravinda de Silva	Sri Lanka	1984-2003	308	30
Saeed Anwar	Pakistan	1989-2003	247	28
Adam Gilchrist	Australia	1996-2008	287	28
AB de Villiers	South Africa	2005-2018	228	27
Shakib Al Hasan	Bangladesh	2006-2023	247	27

Most Player Of The Match Awards In T20I Cricket

T20I cricket is the newest format and features players from both established and emerging cricket nations. The list includes players from associate nations who dominate their regional competitions.

Player	Country	Span	Matches	Awards
Virandeep Singh	Malaysia	2019-2025	111	22
Sikandar Raza	Zimbabwe	2013-2025	127	19
Suryakumar Yadav	India	2021-2025	99	16
Virat Kohli	India	2010-2024	125	16
Sami Sohail	Malawi	2019-2025	66	14
Muhammad Waseem	UAE	2021-2025	91	14
Mohammad Nabi	Afghanistan	2010-2025	145	14
Rohit Sharma	India	2007-2024	159	14
Syed Aziz	Malaysia	2019-2025	117	13
Bilal Zalmai	Austria	2019-2025	50	12
Alpesh Ramjani	Uganda	2022-2025	65	12
Dinesh Nakrani	Uganda	2019-2025	82	12
Mohammad Rizwan	Pakistan	2015-2024	106	12
David Warner	Australia	2009-2024	110	12
Glenn Maxwell	Australia	2012-2025	126	12

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Conclusion

The Player of the Match records highlight the greatest match-winners in cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar leads the overall list with 76 awards, while Jacques Kallis dominates Test cricket with 23 awards. Tendulkar remains unmatched in ODIs with 62 awards. The T20I format features emerging talents from associate nations alongside established stars. These records showcase the evolution of cricket and the players who shaped each era of the game.