Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards : Details
Discover cricketers with the most ICC Awards—highlighting legends like Virat Kohli who dominate this ranking, and comparing top achievers in cricket.
The ICC Awards are one of the most personal honor in international cricket, giving honours to players who’ve delivered brilliant performances on the international stage. While the majority of the players have received awards over the years, only a few have ruled every now and then and become history. Here’s a comprehensive review of the top 10 cricketers who received most ICC awards, why they received them, and why they became irreplaceable.
Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards
| Cricketer | Country | Total ICC Awards |
| Virat Kohli | India | 10 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 4 |
| MS Dhoni | India | 4 |
| Steve Smith | Australia | 4 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 3 |
| Mitchell Johnson | Australia | 3 |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 3 |
| AB de Villiers | South Africa | 3 |
| Ryan ten Doeschate | Netherlands | 3 |
| Rahul Dravid | India | 2 |
Cricketers with the Most ICC Awards Detailed Analysis
Virat Kohli
Image Source : Associated Press
Virat Kohli is a generation-defining batsman whose dominance over the 2010s defined modern cricket. He has won 10 ICC awards, two Cricketer of the Year and four ODI Cricketer of the Year awards, among them. His golden era between 2010–2019 granted him the Cricketer of the Decade and ODI Cricketer of the Decade award. In 2023, he scored 1377 ODI runs and his 50th century, further establishing his legend status.
Kumar Sangakkara
Image Source : AFP
A virtuoso of orthodox batting and superb wicket-keeping, Sangakkara was the pillar of Sri Lankan cricket. He won the Cricketer of the Year for 2012 and was awarded the ODI Cricketer of the Year twice. His prime years—2011, 2012, and 2013—were filled with runs, records, and stunning consistency in the various formats, defining his all-round excellence.
MS Dhoni
Image Source : AFP
India’s finest captain, MS Dhoni, collected four ICC awards, including back-to-back ODI Cricketer of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009. He collected the inaugural ICC Spirit of Cricket award in 2011 for his decision to send Ian Bell back onto the field in a disputed run-out. He was an international icon of leadership and sportsmanship.
Steve Smith
Image Source : Twitter
Steve Smith transformed from a leg-spinner to a Test batting phenomenon. His outstanding performance in 2015 and 2017 earned him several Test Cricketer of the Year awards. His dominance in the longest form, especially during the 2010s, earned him the prestigious Test Cricketer of the Decade award. His unorthodox approach and robustness in the mind define his game.
Ricky Ponting
Image Source : Getty Images
Ricky Ponting’s golden era in the mid-2000s coincided with the Aussie dominance. He was consecutively awarded Cricketer of the Year for 2006 and 2007 and a Test Cricketer of the Year award. A fine leader and merciless batter, Ponting was the heart of the Aussie machine that had overpowered world cricket for over a decade.
Mitchell Johnson
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A fearsome express bowler, Mitchell Johnson could intimidate any batsman through raw pace and zip. He played phenomenally in 2009 and 2014 and was bestowed the Cricketer of the Year title both times. In 2014, he received the Test Cricketer of the Year for his pyrotechnic Ashes spell. Johnson’s aggressive style was in keeping with Australia’s great fast bowlers.
Babar Azam
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Pakistan’s batting legend Babar Azam is among the best batsmen of the contemporary era. He was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2022 and the ODI Cricketer of the Year for two years running in 2021 and 2022. Through his chiseled stroke play, consistency, and level head, he is the pillar of Pakistan’s batting department.
AB de Villiers
Image Source : AFP
AB de Villiers brought style and innovation to the game of limited-overs cricket. Nicknamed “Mr. 360,” he received the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year for three consecutive years (2010, 2014, 2015). His unprecedented repertoire of shots and aggressive form of play transformed the game of ODIs, such as a record 150 off 64 balls against the West Indies in 2015.
Ryan ten Doeschate
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Legend of associate nations, Ryan ten Doeschate won the ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year award three times. He performed outstandingly for the Netherlands, especially during international tournaments. He brought professionalism, solidity, and class to associate cricket, outshining often full-member players with the bat and ball.
Rahul Dravid
Image Source : Getty Images
The ever-reliable “Wall” of Indian cricket, Rahul Dravid, had a dream year in 2004, amassing nearly 2000 runs in all formats. That endeavor earned him the ICC Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year awards—the first player ever to do so both in one year. His humility, technique, and discipline remain unparalleled.
Conclusion
These cricketers are not only award recipients but cricket’s finest ambassadors.Their ICC honors are a testament to decades of work, unmatched ability, and the potential to succeed on cricket’s grandest platforms. With the all-format mastery of Kohli to the unorthodox brilliance of AB de Villiers, each of these players has rewritten the history in his own way. Their stories keep inspiring millions and plot the game’s destiny.