Cricket is the third-most popular sport in the world and its fanbase just keeps on increasing day by day. Initially, there was only one format in which the game was played, but eventually One Day International and then T20s came into play. Franchise cricket has also played a significant role in increasing the popularity of the sport. Cricket has given us several iconic legends and these athletes are also one of the reasons behind making the game famous worldwide.
In today’s era, social media has become a daily part of everyone’s life. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X are places where people can connect with their favorite cricketers. Although cricketers with the most fan following on social media are considered the most popular in the world, the number of followers on someone’s account isn’t the only way to judge an athlete’s popularity. In this article, we will have a look at those cricketers who made a big name in the cricket world and even though some of them have retired, they still have a huge fan base.
6) Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh is one of the greatest all-rounders the Indian team has ever had. The veteran cricketer has always proved to be an important player for the team. The iconic 6 sixes in the 2007 T20 World Cup against England–well who can forget that? There are very few cricketers of this caliber who can do this type of batting and send every ball of the over straight out of the boundary. Yuvi was significant in India’s 2007 World T20 win. Even in the 2011 World Cup, he was Player of the Series.
However, Yuvraj faced a big battle when he was diagnosed with cancer. Even though he made a stunning comeback, he couldn’t continue in the same rhythm. He retired from International cricket in 2017. Yuvi runs the YouWeCan Foundation, which is a charity foundation to spread awareness about cancer. He is still loved by cricket fans around the world and has 19.6 million followers on Instagram.
5) Chris Gayle
Whenever Chris Gayle used to come in the field and bat, cricket fans always used to get a great dose of entertainment. His incredible long sixes were the favorites of people. The Windy player has displayed his exceptional skills numerous times,which is why he was given the title “Universal Boss.” Gayle was the record holder for most sixes in the World Cup until Rohit Sharma broke the record last year. Chris is the leading run scorer for the West Indies in ODI cricket. Gayle is loved by cricket fans all around the world and when he started playing IPL, his fan base grew more and more. He was once the face of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. Not only with the bat, but Gayle showed his impressive skills with the ball too.
4) AB de Villiers
The former South African captain, AB De Villiers, is one of the most beloved cricketers around the world. He always gets the loudest cheer on most grounds when he comes to bat. Mr. 360 Degree is known for his flawless and fearless batting, and he used to hit runs in every direction. People loved his batting style and he was always impressive on the field. ABD scored over 20,000 runs in international cricket and led South Africa in all three formats. He had a great ability to adapt to any format and in any crucial situation. When ABD started playing for RCB, his fan following grew even more and the crowd always got excited when he came to bat.
3) Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Dhoni had a slow start after his debut in international cricket, but he soon changed the pace of his game and eventually turned the tide for Indian cricket. His long-haired hairstyle got quite famous in 2007, along with his batting skills. He is still the most successful captain the Indian team has ever had. Dhoni’s first big achievement as the Indian team’s captain was leading them to the 2007 T20 World Cup trophy. A few years later, India won the 2011 World Cup, where Dhoni played a marvelous innings in the final. In 2013, the Indian team also won the Champions Trophy.
MSD was not only known for his great finishing abilities and impressive captaincy, but also for his exceptional and accurate wicket-keeping skills. This is what made Dhoni popular worldwide. He led India in all three formats and even after retirement, we can still see the craze people have for him. Even though he is not very active on social media, whenever he posts, fans all around the world are overwhelmed. The best example of his huge fan base can be seen in the ongoing IPL 2024, where even if he comes to bat with the last two overs or last few balls remaining, the crowd gets crazy and the chants and cheers get louder and louder.
2) Sachin Tendulkar
The legend Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest players to play cricket. The master blaster is still the player with the most runs (34,257) in international cricket. He is the highest run scorer in both ODI and Test. Sachin made his international debut for India at the age of 16 and went on to play for 24 years, making records and reaching big heights. He is called the God of Cricket and is loved by everyone around the world. Sachin retired from all forms of cricket in November 2013, but even today, whenever he enters the cricket field, the crowd cheers are just the same as when he used to come and bat.
1) Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is arguably one of the most popular cricketers in the world. He is also one of the most consistent batsmen in international cricket. Virat is not only an inspiration to people in the cricket world but also to other people because of his fitness. Apart from this, he has also brought a lot of success to India as their skipper, especially in Test cricket. “The Run Machine” is unstoppable when it comes to scoring runs. He is also called the Chase Master because whenever he comes to bat when the team is chasing, he stays till the very end. He is a four-time Cricketer of the Year award winner and he has defined an entire generation of aspiring cricketers and his popularity speaks for itself.
Also Read: List of 10 Best Finisher Batsmen In World Cricket
