Top 10 Players With Most Man Of The Series Awards In International Cricket

A players performance is not always determined by what the statistic books show. However, technically awards are given to recognise the herculean effort by a player. Similarly, in cricket, cricketers receive the man of the series award for their spectacular show throughout a series. This is an epitome of their greatness and consistency during that said series.

Many great cricketers have earned the player of the series owing to the essential contribution that they enacted in the series. Many great cricketers have struggled to win one man of the series awards throughout their cricket journey. Thus, winning many is one of the toughest jobs and considered as the rare achievements in the game of cricket.

We at Cricket Addictor takes a look at the top ten cricketers with the most man of the series awards in international cricket across the formats:

Also read: Top 10 Lowest Totals In Test Cricket

10. Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan is the greatest ever to spin a ball in the history of cricket. Whether Sri Lanka played at home, on pitches where he was often unplayable, or overseas, Murali was the go-to man and he seldom disappointed. His 800 Test wickets and 534 in ODIs are a testimony to that.

Mostly marred with controversies, Muralitharan has troubled almost every batsman he has played against. In the 155 series, he has represented his country ranging over almost 18 years, Muralitharan won 11 man of the series awards. Notably, all those awards came in the Test cricket which is also the most by a player to have played the game.

9. Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting, one of the most stylish batsmen of his generation, grew into Australia’s most successful run-scorer and only sits below Don Bradman in the country’s overall ratings. Besides his leadership abilities, Ponting scored tons of runs for his country and dominated the one drop position for 17 years.

The right-handed batsman has won a lot of trophies throughout his career including 11 man of the series awards which he will treasure the most. Ponting has four awards in Tests while seven came in the fifty-over formats.

8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

The former West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul proved there is life beyond the coaching manual. He used soft hands, canny deflections, and a whiplash pull-shot to maintain a Test average of over 50, which took him to the epitome of success.

The southpaw represented West Indies for over two decades and was mostly dominated in the longer formats of the game. Chanderpaul won 11 man of the series awards including seven in Tests and four in the ODIs. As a result, he occupies the eighth spot in the list.

7. Shaun Pollock

Coming from a cricketing family with both dad and uncle representing South Africa, Shaun Pollock was handy all-rounder of his generation. However, it was his disciplined line and length with the ball that established him as the cricketer. He was one of the greatest Proteas skippers and led them to many wins during his career.

Pollock, who later returned to coaching, has 11 man of the series awards from 107 series he has played for South Africa across the formats. He is the only second South Africa to feature in this list which speaks volume about his greatness.

6. Chris Gayle

Whenever we talk about the big hitters of the modern era, the first name which comes in everyone mind is none other than West Indies opener Chris Gayle. With his brutal power and great hand-eye combination, Gayle can tear apart any bowling unit across the globe.

The self-proclaimed Universe Boss can win matches on his own on any given day. Gayle, who has played 136 series’ for his country has won 12 man of the series award which takes him to the sixth spot in the list of cricketers with the most man of the series awards in international cricket. Out of the 12, the legendary batsman won eight in the ODI while he shared the four awards equally between Tests and T20Is.

5. Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya is known to redefine the art of batting at the top of the batting order. He took an aggressive approach and went hard against the new ball. Jayasuriya is one of the stylish left-handed batsmen to have played the game.

The southpaw has served Sri Lankan cricket for many years and was a crucial stakeholder in their 1996 World Cup win. Jayasuriya’s ability to flick the ball over the square-leg fielder was a treat to watch for the fans. The former cricketer has 13 man of the series awards out of which 11 came in the ODIs which shows how great a player he was when it came to white-ball cricket.

4. Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan is the greatest cricketer in the history of Bangladesh cricket who will inspire many in the coming days. As a bowler, Shakib is accurate, consistent and canny; while aggression and a wide range of strokes are the keys to his batting.

By his sheer self-belief and aggression, Shakib has reached the pinnacle of success. The Bangladesh star has 13 man of the series awards to his name taking him to the fourth spot in the list of batsmen with the most man of the series awards in international cricket. These statistics are a perfect example to prove his greatness.

3. Jacques Kallis

Few players who belong to the modern age are a better fit than Jacques Kallis for the notion of the classical cricketer. He is the greatest all-rounder to have played the game of cricket in the 21st century. Kallis was the broad-shouldered colossus of the South African team, a figure whose looming presence inspired calm in some and dread in others.

The former all-rounder’s sheer consistency with both bat and ball made him one of the greatest. Kallis has won many awards throughout his career by his all-round brilliance. His 15 man of the series awards finds him the third spot in the list of top 10 players with the most man of the series awards in international cricket.

2. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli’s sheer passion for the game has made him one of the modern-day great. His hunger for runs is a treat to watch and scoring hundreds looks like a daily affair for him. Kohli is ardently following the footsteps of his legend – Sachin Tendulkar.

The Indian skipper’s consistency is a thing the younger cricketers should try to imbibe in them. Within 13 of making his debut, Kohli has earned 19 man of the series awards including 16 in the limited-overs format. With a lot of cricket still left in him, Kohli can certainly surpass everyone to be the greatest ever.

1. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the greatest batsman of this generation. His 100 international centuries is a landmark for the modern-day batsman to achieve. Despite struggling with injuries, Tendulkar’s ability to shine on a consistent basis took him to the epitome of success.

The Master Blaster has the most number of man of the series in international cricket al the three formats combined. Tendulkar has 20 awards to his names including five in Test and 15 in one-dayers. Meanwhile, he played only one T20I for India and thus has not won any man of the series award.

(All stats are updated till 20th March, 2021)