Who is the God of Cricket?

Who is the God of Cricket? Many great cricket players have come and gone, including Australians Donald Bradman and Ricky Ponting, West Indian Brian Lara, and Indians Kapil Dev and Shane Warne. They were all the best players of their time, and some were even called the “king of cricket.” But only one player has ever been officially called the “God of Cricket”: Sachin Tendulkar.

Who is the God of Cricket?

Sachin Tendulkar is widely known as the God of Cricket due to his strong determination, smart choices in shots, and consistent performance over 24 years. His presence in the Mumbai Indians team also contributed to making them one of the most formidable teams in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Since his retirement from international cricket, there has been a search for the next cricketing deity. Today, we’ll take a deep dive into why Sachin is considered the God of Cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar

In this article, we’ll explore Sachin’s impact on cricket and his fans. But before that, let’s find out who bestowed the title ‘God of Cricket’ upon Sachin.

Who Gave God of Cricket Title to Sachin Tendulkar?

In the world of international cricket, it was Matthew Hayden who first acclaimed Sachin as a cricketing deity. Hayden’s words were straightforward: “If cricket is a religion, then Sachin is a god.”

Hayden highlighted Sachin’s match-winning capabilities and his immense popularity in India. Furthermore, on Sachin’s retirement day, Matthew Hayden’s quote, “I have seen god; he bats at number 4 for India,” solidified Sachin’s god-like status in the realm of his accomplishments and contributions to the sport.

Sachin Tendulkar: Stats That Validate His ‘God of Cricket’ Title

Let’s uncover why Sachin holds the revered title of ‘God of Cricket’ in India. He made history as the first player to achieve 20 centuries in ODI cricket, surpassing Saeed Anwar’s record of 19 centuries, which garnered global media attention. Additionally, Sachin stands as the first cricketer to reach 49 ODI hundreds, a monumental feat that set him apart in the cricketing world.

Sachin’s journey to international stardom was a gradual climb, showcasing his unwavering dedication that ultimately solidified his esteemed position. Here, we highlight some of the remarkable records that earned Sachin the title of the God of Cricket in India.

• First batsman to score double hundred in ODIs
• First batsman to score 10,000 runs in ODIs
• First batsman to score 11,000, 12,000, 13,000, 14,000, 15,000, 16,000, 17,000, and 18,000 runs in ODIs
• First batsman to score 50 test hundreds
• First batsman to score 100 international centuries 
• First batsman to score 9 hundred in ODIs in a single year, in 1998
• First batsman to score more than 2000 fours in ODI career
• First batsman to score 15,000 runs in test cricket
• First batsman to score most ODI runs in a calendar year in 1998
• First batsman to get the most Man of the Series awards (20)
• Fastest to score 13,000, 14,000, 15,000 runs in test cricket
• Fastest to score 13,000, 14,000, 15,000, 16,000, 17,000, 18,000 runs in ODIs
• He scored 34,357 runs in international cricket in all formats
• He scored the most hundreds in a calendar year (12)
• Most man of the match awards (76)0
• He played most matches in his career (664)

Sachin Tendulkar Overall Career Stats (Test, ODI, T20I, IPL)

Well before his retirement from cricket, Sachin Tendulkar was renowned as the God of Cricket worldwide, backed by an impressive array of statistics. Here, we present the comprehensive statistics of Sachin Tendulkar, spanning his extensive and illustrious cricketing career.

Formats	Matches	Innings	Runs	Avg.	100s	50s	H/S	Not Out	Ducks
Test	200	329	15921	53	51	68	248*	33	14
ODI	463	452	18426	44	49	96	200	41	20
T20I	01	01	10	10	–	–	–	–	–
IPL	78	78	2334	33	01	13	100	09	–

Who is New God of Cricket?

Sachin’s stature among cricket fans in India is so revered that he is often regarded as their deity. Following Sachin’s retirement from international cricket, discussions began about who might assume the mantle of the new god of cricket across all formats.

Currently, two prominent contenders for this prestigious title are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Some individuals have even designated Sachin as the first god of cricket, Virat as the second, and Rohit as the third.

Let’s delve deeper into the profiles of Rohit and Virat, exploring the reasons why they are being touted as potential gods of cricket.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has earned the title of “second God of Cricket” from fans for his consistent record-breaking feats, especially those that have surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. He has played a pivotal role in elevating India to the top of the Test rankings, receiving praise from teammates and fans alike.

Even during his tenure as captain, Kohli maintained an exceptional batting performance across all formats, without sacrificing his form. A comprehensive list of his international centuries reveals that he has even surpassed Tendulkar in certain aspects.

• He has the most Player of the Series awards in all formats (20)
• He has the record for most hundreds (10) against a single in ODI cricket. 
• He was the fastest to score 12,000 ODI runs 
• He has the most Player of the Series awards in T20I
• He has the most runs in T20I
• He has most fifties in T20I
• He has scored hundreds in each innings of a test match

Virat Kohli Overall Career Stats (Test, ODI, T20I, IPL)

Virat Kohli has had a formidable career, piling on records for both India and himself. His sheer determination to better himself on the cricket field has earned him the moniker of “GOAT of Cricket.”

This is the complete table of the stats for Virat Kohli to date. 

Formats	M	Inn	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	BF	SR	100	200	50	4s	6s
Test	111	187	11	8676	254	49.3	15708	55.23	29	7	29	966	24
ODI	275	265	40	12898	183	57.32	13776	93.63	46	0	65	1211	139
T20I	115	107	31	4008	122	52.74	2905	137.97	1	0	37	356	117
IPL	237	229	34	7263	113	37.25	5586	130.02	7	0	50	643	234

Rohit Sharma

In the current era of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma is one of the most formidable batsmen ever to play the game. He is a master of the pull shot, and his ability to dispatch short-pitched deliveries with ease is a sight to behold.

Sharma is the one batsman that bowlers dread bowling short to. He has a knack of turning short-pitched deliveries into boundaries and sixes, and he can do so with almost effortless grace.

• Rohit holds the record for the highest score in an ODI match (264)
• Rohit played most matches in his T20I career
• Scored most runs from fours and sixes in an ODI innings
• Scored most sixes in T20I career
• Most double centuries in ODI cricket
• Most fours in an ODI innings

Rohit Sharma Overall Career Stats (Test, ODI, T20I, IPL)

Rohit Sharma is one of the most prolific batsmen in ODI cricket today. With his elegant batting style and ability to score big runs consistently, he has earned the reputation of being a “third God of Cricket” in India.

But can he break the records set by Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli? Only time will tell. However, based on his current form, there is no doubt that he has the potential to do so.

Here are some of Rohit Sharma’s career stats in Test, ODIs, T20I, and IPL:

Formats	M	Inn	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	BF	SR	100	200	50	4s	6s
Test	52	88	9	3677	212	46.54	6534	56.27	10	1	16	394	77
ODI	244	237	35	9837	264	48.7	10933	89.98	30	3	48	901	275
T20I	148	140	15	3853	118	30.82	2767	139.25	4	0	29	348	182
IPL	243	238	28	6211	109	29.58	4776	130.05	1	0	42	554	257

Conclusion

Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma are three of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game of cricket. They have all achieved remarkable personal milestones and have had a significant impact on their home country. Their ability to perform consistently on the cricket pitch has earned them the admiration and reverence of cricket fans worldwide.

I think it is difficult to say definitively whether there is anyone better than them. Each of these players has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Tendulkar was a master of all formats of the game, while Kohli is widely regarded as the greatest ODI batsman of all time. Sharma is a specialist white-ball batsman, but he has the potential to break all of Kohli’s records in ODI cricket.

Ultimately, whether or not you think these three players are the best is a matter of personal opinion. However, there is no doubt that they are all exceptional batsmen who have left an indelible mark on the cricketing world.

FAQ’s