Top 5 Players with the most “Player of the Match Awards” in International Cricket

In the highly competitive world of international cricket, individual brilliance often shines through, impacting the course of a match and earning a player the coveted “Player of the Match” award. This award is given in recognition of an exceptional performance that makes a big difference in a team’s win or, in some situations, an outstanding effort in a losing cause. Over decades of exhilarating cricket, a few legends have consistently delivered match-winning performances, accumulating an impressive tally of these awards across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. In this Article, we are going to learn about the top 5 players who have won the most Player of the Match award in International cricket history.

1. Sachin Tendulkar (India) — 76 awards

Sachin Tendulkar, who is often considered the “God of Cricket,” inspired a generation and set new batting records during his 1989–2013 career. His 76 Player of the Match awards across all formats are a testament to his unparalleled consistency and match-winning abilities. His 62 Player of the Match honours still stand as a record, and a significant portion of these honours came in ODIs. During his career, he amassed 34357 international runs, including 164 half-centuries and 100 international hundreds.

2. Virat Kohli (India) — 69 awards

A modern-day maestro, Virat Kohli has emerged as one of the most prolific run-scorers and match-winners in the history of the sport. With 69 Player of the Match awards to his name, he has showcased his incredible impact across all three formats. He has scored 27599 runs in his international career so far, including 82 centuries and 143 half-centuries. His aggressive yet technically sound batting, coupled with his exceptional fitness and unwavering determination, has allowed him to consistently deliver under pressure. Kohli’s ability to chase down daunting totals in ODIs has been particularly legendary, earning him numerous Player of the Match awards in that format (43 in ODIs). As an active ODI player, he continues to add to his tally in the upcoming cricket matches of One-Day Internationals.

3. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) — 58 awards

The revolutionary Sri Lankan opener, Sanath Jayasuriya, transformed ODI batting with his audacious and aggressive approach at the top of the order. Throughout his career from 1989 to 2011, he amassed 58 Player of the Match awards. He has amassed 21032 runs in his international career, including 42 centuries and 103 half-centuries. Jayasuriya was a multi-faceted cricketer, capable of dismantling bowling attacks with his explosive batting and bamboozling batsmen with his left-arm spin. He also took 440 international wickets. His 48 Player of the Match awards in ODIs highlight his profound influence on the format, especially during Sri Lanka’s golden era of cricket.

4. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) — 57 awards

Arguably the greatest all-rounder the game has ever seen, Jacques Kallis was a pillar of strength for South African cricket for nearly two decades (1995–2014). His remarkable consistency with both bat and ball earned him 57 Player of the Match awards. He scored 25534 runs in his international career, including 62 centuries and 149 half-centuries. He also has 577 international wickets in his name. He possessed a rare combination of solid batting technique, the ability to bowl impactful spells, and safe hands in the slips. Whether it was grinding out crucial centuries in Tests or providing vital breakthroughs and accelerating the scoring in ODIs, Kallis’s contributions were often decisive.

5. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) — 50 awards

Former Sri Lanka Skipper, Kumar Sangakkara, stands as one of the finest wicketkeeper-batsmen in cricket history. His illustrious career from 2000 to 2015 saw him accumulate 50 Player of the Match awards. Kumar Sangakkara’s batting was characterised by fluid strokes, immense concentration, and the ability to play long, impactful innings across all formats. Whether it was his prolific run-scoring in Tests or his crucial contributions as a top-order batsman in ODIs, Sangakkara consistently delivered match-winning performances for Sri Lanka. He is currently 2nd leading run scorer in international cricket, after Sachin Tendulkar. He scored 28016 runs in his international career, including 63 centuries and 153 half-centuries.