Top Ten Players With Most Man of the Match Awards in ODIs

One-Day Internationals have over the years produced some of the top cricketers who have made a mark of themselves in the minds of the cricket lovers. In this article, we will talk about the list of players with the most man of the match awards in ODIs.

Awards work as a motivation for the players to strive for better in the next game. Over the years, we have seen cricketers who have done consistently well for their countries over the years. From Sourav Ganguly to Sanath Jayasuriya to Viv Richards, many have performed consistently performed well to win the man of the match awards.

On that context, let us take a look at the top ten cricketers with the most man of the match awards in ODIs:

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10 – BRIAN LARA

Brian Lara is the greatest left-handed batsman to have ever played the game. His cover drives and backfoot punches were a treat to the eye for all the cricket lovers.

Lara has a significant record in the ODIs scoring over 10000 runs in 299 ODIs he has played. Besides, he has 19 centuries and 63 fifties to his name and was modern-day great. Notably, he also has 30 man of the match awards to his name which makes him stand in the tenth spot in the list of top ten players with the most man of the match awards in ODIs.

9 – KUMAR SANGAKKARA

Kumar Sangakkara is one of most illustrated Sri Lankan cricketers to have played the game. The way he conducted himself on and off the field set an example for the young cricketers.

Besides, Sangakkara was an elegant looking batsman who scored runs with ease. The 41-year-old has represented Sri Lanka in 404 ODIs winning 31 man of the match awards in his career. Besides, he has over 14000 runs to his name including 25 centuries and is also the highest ODI run-scorer for Sri Lanka.

8 – SOURAV GANGULY

Sourav Ganguly is one of the greatest skippers to have led the Indian team. Besides his leadership, Ganguly’s elegant cover drives and coming down the track to dispatch the spinners were his trademark shots.

Mostly overshadowed by Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly made a name for himself. Ganguly has won 32 man of the match awards in 311 ODIs he has played for India, thus finding the seventh spot in the list of top ten cricketers with the most man of the match awards in ODis. The former India skipper is also one of the highest run-scorers for his country scoring 11363 runs at an average of 41.02.

7 – VIV RICHARDS

Sir Viv Richards is the architect of aggressive batting as his ability to hit the ball was unparallel to others. He belonged to that great Windies team which dominated the world cricket for almost over a decade.

Richards has represented Windies in 187 ODIs scoring 6721 runs at an average of 47. The legendary cricketer during his career has won 31 man of the match awards, the seventh best in the history of ODI cricket.

6 – SHAHID AFRIDI

Shahid Afridi is one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game. His ability to contribute to all the departments makes him one of the utility cricketers.

Afridi has played 398 ODIs scoring 8064 runs including six centuries at an average of 23.57. He also has a 37-ball hundred to his name, which was the record for the fastest ODI hundred for a long time. The former Pakistan cricketer also has 32 ODI man of the matches to his name; thus, occupying the sixth spot in the list of top ten players with the most man of the match awards in ODIs. The former Pakistan skipper also has 395 wickets to his name.

5 – RICKY PONTING

Ricky Ponting is arguably the best ODI skipper to have played the ODI cricket. He has won the 2003 and 2007 ICC World Cup leading the best bunch of ODI cricketers. Besides, he was one of the best batsmen to have played.

Ponting has scored 13704 runs from 375 matches including 30 centuries at an average of touch over 42. His efforts have earned him 32 man of the match awards which takes him to the fifth spot in the list of players with the most man of the match awards in ODIs.

4 – JACQUES KALLIS

Jacques Kallis is arguably the best all-rounder to have graced the cricket field. His ability to contribute to all the departments made him the most sought after cricketers during his time.

The former South Africa cricketer has over 11000 runs to his name along with 273 wickets in 314 ODIs he has played over a span of 18 years. The most illustrated South African cricketer was also an excellent fielder at the slip cordon. Kallis has earned 32 man of the match awards for his efforts on the cricket fielding giving him the south spot in the list of top ten players with the most man of the match awards in ODIs.

3 – VIRAT KOHLI

The Indian National Cricket Team skipper is arguably the best batsmen among the modern-day cricketers. Kohli’s consistency has taken everybody by surprise, and his passion for success has earned him a lot of accolades across the globe.

Kohli is currently the top-ranked ODI batsman with 43 centuries to his name with over 11,867 runs from 248 games. He has 36 man of the match awards to his name and is only the playing cricketer to feature in the list of top ten cricketers with the most man of the match awards in ODIs.

2 – SANATH JAYASURIYA

Sanath Jayasuriya is one of the greatest hitters of the cricket ball. The southpaw initiated how to hit the new ball at the start of the innings. His ability to flick the ball over the square leg fielder was the highlight of his batting.

The 49-year-old has scored 13430 runs from 445 matches scoring at an average of 32.36 including 28 centuries. Jayasuriya has earned 48 man of the match awards the second most among cricketers with the most player of the match awards in ODIs.

1 – SACHIN TENDULKAR

Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the best cricketer to have the game of cricket. His ability to score runs took him to a different planet and has served India cricket for almost 20 years.

Tendulkar has represented the Men in Blues in 463 games scoring 18426 runs at an average of 44.83. He has scored 49 ODI centuries the most by a cricketer and also has the highest runs among cricketer. Tendulkar has almost all the records to his name along with the most man of the match award. He has 64 awards the most by any cricketer in ODIs.

(All Stats Updated Till 23rd March, 2020)