ICC announced the Men's Test Team of the year 2021 for ICC Awards 2021. Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin were included in the team from India. Meanwhile, ICC World Test Champion New Zealand's skipper Kane Williamson was made the captain of the team.
For an outstanding 1708 test run in 2021, Joe Root was undoubtedly given a place in the No. 4 batting position. In that case, players like Steve Smith and Virat Kohli had to miss out this time.
Fawad Alam, at 36 was the surprise of the year as the piled 571 test runs at an average of 57.10 with three centuries. Rishabh Pant is made the wicket-keeper of the Test team of the year as there was no one close to him with 748 runs in just 12 test matches in 2021.
Ravichandran Ashwin took 54 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 16.64 to go with his 355 runs at an average of 25.35. He is also one of the nominees for the Test Player of the year. Dimuth Karunaratne, who is regarded as one the most underrated test cricketer scored the second-most runs as an opener in 2021. He piled 902 runs in 7 matches at an average of 69.38.
Along with him, it was Rohit Sharma who scored the most for team India in the test in 2021. Rohit scored 906 runs at an average of 47.68. Meantime, Marnus Labschange was also world-classs at No.3 in test cricket. The Aussie rookie scored 526 runs at an average of 65.75.
Kyle Jamieson had shined with the ball in hand. He picked up 27 wickets in 5 matches in 2021. However, in 2021 it was the Pakistani duo of Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi who celebrated most. Shaheen took 47 wickets in 9 matches. Meanwhile, Ali took 41 wickets in 9 test matches.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ICC tournaments | Details Stats
Here we take a look at the Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam stats comparison in ICC tournaments and see who has been a better batter in terms of numbers and stats.
The comparison between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli is one of the most discussed topics in the cricketing world. Although Virat made his debut much earlier in 2008, while Babar played his first international match in 2015, the debate about these two batting superstars across various formats continues to thrive.
Both Kohli and Babar were U-19 stars. Kohli won the ODI World Cup in 2011, Champions Trophy in 2013 and T20 World Cup in 2024 with India, while Babar’s only international triumph is the Champions Trophy in 2017.
Here we take a look at the Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam stats comparison in ICC tournaments and see who has been a better batter in terms of numbers and stats.
Kohli has played 37 ODI World Cup matches across four editions, scoring 1,795 runs at an average of 59.83 and a strike rate of 88.20, with five hundreds and 12 half-centuries. The former India captain has been dismissed without scoring only once in the ICC event. His best of 117 came off 113 balls against New Zealand in the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Virat Kohli in ODI WCs
Innings
Runs
Not outs
Average
SR
HS
100s
50s
0s
2011
9
282
1
35.25
82.21
100*
1
1
0
2015
8
305
2
50.83
81.55
107
1
0
0
2019
9
443
1
55.37
94.05
82
0
5
0
2023
11
765
3
95.62
90.31
117
3
6
1
Total
37
1,795
7
59.83
88.20
117
5
12
1
Looking at Babar's record in the ODI World Cup, he has played 17 matches and has scored 794 runs at an average of 52.93 and a strike rate of 85.74, with one hundred and seven fifties. He is yet to be dismissed for a duck in a World Cup match. Babar's only ton in the ODI World Cup came against New Zealand in Birmingham in 2019, when scored 101* off 127 balls.
Babar Azam in ODI WCs
Innings
Runs
Not outs
Average
SR
HS
100s
50s
0s
2019
8
474
1
67.71
87.77
101*
1
3
0
2023
9
320
1
40
82.90
74
0
4
0
Total
17
794
2
52.93
85.74
101*
1
7
0
ICC Champions Trophy
Looking at his stats in the Champions Trophy, Kohli has played 17 innings and has scored 747 runs at an average of 74.07 and a strike rate of 89.04, with six half-centuries and one century to his name. He has been dismissed without scoring on one occasion.
Babar has featured two Champions Trophies. In seven matches so far, he has scored 220 runs at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 74.08, with just one fifty. In the 2017 edition that Pakistan won, Babar contributed 133 runs in five innings (two not outs) at an average of 44.33 and a strike rate of 74.71. Again, Kohli has a better average and strike rate than Babar in the Champions Trophy.
Virat is the all times highest run scorer in the history of the T20 World Cup. In 33 matches, Virat has scored 1292 runs at a strike rate 128.8 of and an average of 58.7. Kohli has also scored 15 half-centuries with a top score of 89 not out to his name.
Babar, on the other hand, has played only 3 editions of the T20 World Cup. In 2021, he was the top run-scorer after he made 303 runs from 6 games at an average of 60.60. In 17 T20 World Cup matches, Babar has scored 549 runs at an average of 36.6.
Indian won seven ICC trophies over the years. A few players have been part of several of these victorious campaigns. let's take a look at the Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is cricket’s global governing body, overseeing various prestigious tournaments. These include the ICC Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, and the World Test Championship. The ICC tournaments are considered the most prestigious in cricket, and players strive to lift the trophies.
India have always had the services of the best players. And thanks to them, India have been a consistent force in world cricket. The same consistency is visible in the ICC tournaments. This has helped the Indian team win seven ICC trophies over the years. A few players have been part of several of these victorious campaigns.
So, let's take a look at the Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles.
Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles
6. Harbhajan Singh | 3 Titles
2002 Champions Trophy (shared with Sri Lanka)
2007 T20 World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
Having started his career in 1998, Harbhajan Singh is one of the few Indian cricketers to have won all three ICC white-ball titles.
He was part of India's 2002 ICC Champions Trophy title-winning campaign, where they were joint winners with Sri Lanka. Five years later, he played a key role in India's triumph in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup, in 2007. He was also a part of India's 2011 ODI World Cup winning squad.
5. Yuvraj Singh | 3 Titles
2002 Champions Trophy (shared with Sri Lanka)
2007 T20 World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
One of India's greatest all-rounders, Yuvraj Singh has also won all three ICC white-ball tournaments. He was part of the teams that won the 2002 Champions Trophy, 2007 T20 World Cup, and 2011 ODI World Cup.
In the 2011 ODI World Cup, Yuvraj was the Player of the Tournament for his stellar all-round performance. He made history in the 2007 T20I World Cup by hitting six sixes in an over against England.
4. Ravindra Jadeja | 3 Titles
2013 Champions Trophy
2024 T20 World Cup
2025 Champions Trophy
After India lifted the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, Ravindra Jadeja went level with Dhoni. The star all-rounder now has three ICC trophies.
Before the latest win, Jadeja was part of another Champions Trophy victory in 2013. He picked up the most wickets in that tournament to win the Golden Ball. Fast forward to 11 years, and Jadeja found himself in the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad. After this, he retired from T20I cricket.
3. MS Dhoni | 3 Titles
2007 T20 World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
2013 Champions Trophy
MS Dhoni was the first Indian player to win three ICC trophies. Interestingly, he won all three of them as skipper. Under Dhoni’s leadership, India had a successful run in limited-overs. And he showed a glimpse of his tactical acumen early in his captaincy stint.
Captain Cool guided a young team to the inaugural T20 World Cup victory in 2007. Then he followed it with the ODI World Cup triumph in 2011. And Dhoni completed the ICC ODI tournament trophy with the Champions Trophy win in 2013.
2. Rohit Sharma | 4 Titles
2007 T20 World Cup
2013 Champions Trophy
2024 T20 World Cup
2025 Champions Trophy
Rohit Sharma is level with Kohli when it comes to ICC trophy victories. The current Indian captain has won two of the four titles while leading the Indian team. Before that, he was part of the Indian team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.
Then, alongside Kohli, he took India to the Champions Trophy victory in 2013. Rohit repeated the feat in 2024 and 2025, but this time as a captain. He guided the Men in Blue to the T20 World Cup win in 2024, followed by the Champions Trophy triumph in 2025.
Virat Kohli has been a proven match-winner for India. And the same is true when it comes to ICC events. The top-order batter hardly fails to perform in these high-stakes tournaments. He has powered the team to many wins, including four ICC title victories.
Kohli managed to land his hands on an ICC trophy for the first time in 2011. He was part of the 2011 World Cup squad that defeated Sri Lanka in the final at home. Two years later, he was on the podium yet again as India won the Champions Trophy in England. But then Kohli had to endure a decade’s wait to add the third title. He helped India win the T20 World Cup in 2024 before clinching his fourth silverware in 2025 as India landed the Champions Trophy.
The ICC men’s ODI World Cup has witnessed some of the greatest batters exhibiting their best in the quest for world glory. The World Cup is watched by millions of viewers across the globe, all thanks to the incredibly entertaining cricket action.
World Cup allows players to display their talents to the fullest, but oftentimes, players perform at a whole other level. Teams have exceeded 400 runs on the scorecard, batsmen have hit double centuries, and bowlers have dismissed entire teams for double-digit totals.
The World Cup has seen its share of highs and lows, but today, we take a look at the individual record for most centuries. So, let's take a look at the batters with most centuries in World Cup history.
Ricky Ponting also scored 5 centuries in World Cup history. In a glorious career spanning 46 World Cup matches between 1996 and 2011, he notched 1,743 runs.
His best score during this period was 140 not out. Under ponting's leadership, Australia bagged three World Cup titles.
5. Virat Kohli | 5
Virat Kohli has scored five centuries in World Cups across 36 innings. He played his first ever ODI World Cup in 2011 and has been a part of every squad that played the following World Cups.
In 2011, on his World Cup debut, Kohli scored a century. His next century came in 2015 against Pakistan. But it was in the 2023 World Cup that Kohli was at his absolute best, scoring three centuries. He is overall the second-highest run scorer in World Cups, with 1795 runs.
4. Kumar Sangakkara | 5
Kumar Sangakkara is the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket history. Not just that, he has also scored the most centuries by a Sri Lankan player at the World Cup.
In 37 World Cup matches, Sangakkara scored five centuries, which were a part of the 1532 runs he scored in World Cups at an average of 56.74.
3. Sachin Tendulkar | 6
There is nearly no World Cup batting record of which Sachin Tendulkar is not a part. Tendulkar, who played six World Cups in his career, smashed six centuries in 44 innings. Sachin is also the top run-scorer in World Cup history, having amassed 2278 runs in 45 matches.
2011, when India broke their 28-year losing streak, was Sachin’s last World Cup. He also holds the record for the most fifties in World Cup history, with a total of 15 of them.
2. David Warner | 6
Australia’s destructive opening batsman David Warner comes second on this list. Warner has played every World Cup starting from the 2015 edition, and has scored six centuries in 29 innings. Two of these centuries came in the 2023 World Cup in India.
Overall from 2015 to 2023, he has scored 1527 runs in 29 games. His top score is 178 runs which came in the 2015 World Cup clash against Afghanistan.
Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma tops the list of most centuries in World Cup history. Rohit has scored a total of 7 centuries in World Cup history so far.
In a brilliant performance during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, Rohit Sharma shattered his 7th century against Afghanistan. Rohit has scored 1575 runs in 28 innings from 2015 to 2023, in which his best score has been 140 runs.
Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar – Test Stats Compared: Can Root break Sachin's record
As Joe Root needs only 2915 test runs to catch Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run getter in test cricket, we bring you a comprehensive Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar test career comparison.
One is called the God of Cricket, and the other is perhaps the greatest test batter of his generation. Both Sachin Tendulkar and Joe Root have contributed to test cricket in their own way.
Since Root started his incredible run with the bat in 2021, everyone started the Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar comparison in test cricket. Some even suggested that the former English captain might even break Sachin Tendulkar's test record as well.
Before India take on England in another mouthwatering five-test match series, we will try to analyse whose test career is better. Is it Joe Root or Sachin Tendulkar? Who is better in test cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar in test cricket - in numbers
Image - BCCI
Even before we get into comparing the players, we need to get the numbers right.
Sachin, the highest run-getter in test and international cricket, scored 15921 test runs in a record 200 test matches. The Indian legend averaged 53.78 and also scored 51 test tons, which is also a record.
Debuted at the age of 16, soon, Sachin soon became the then second youngest ever test centurion at the age of 17 years 107 days old. Sachin created that record when he smashed an unbeaten 119 against England in Manchester in 1990.
Root till now has played only 153 test matches and has a batting average of 50.80. Since the start of 2022, Root has scored 13 test tons, scoring 3475 runs at an average of 53.46. He is also the highest run scorer in World Test Championship history.
Format
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
100s
50s
Tests
153
279
23
13,006
262
50.80
36
65
Other records Root has in his test career:
3rd most test runs in a calendar year (1708, in 2021)
5th most test hundreds (36)
6th most test hundreds in a calendar year (6 in 2021)
Most fifties in consecutive test matches (12)
4th most test fifties (101)
Root vs Sachin in Test Cricket: Comparison
Sachin currently has a lead over Joe Root in every aspect of numbers in test cricket. The master blaster has better records than Root in test cricket.
But to compare them, we will have to compare them with the current number of matches Root has played so far.
Sachin after 153 test matches
Runs: 12152
Innings: 250
Average: 54.25
100s: 39
50s: 51
Highest: 248*
Sachin in wins after 153 tests:
Won: 48 tests
Runs: 4011
Average: 62.67
100s: 13
50s: 16
Root after 153 test matches
Runs: 13006
Innings: 279
Average: 50.80
100s: 36
50s: 65
Highest: 262
Root in wins after 153 test matches:
Wins: 70 tests
Runs: 6999
Average: 64.21
100s: 25
50s: 28
So, if we compare Sachin's record to Joe Root's after 153 test matches, we can see that Root is leading the chart with more runs and more fifties. But, Sachin has a better batting average, more hundreds.
However, in 153 test matches, Root won 70 test matches for England while Sachin had only won 48 test matches as a player. Although their batting averages in winning causes are nearly the same, Root has scored nearly 3000 more test runs on winning occasions for England.
Although Joe Root has scored the most test runs if we compare their stats after 153 test matches, Sachin played nearly five years after playing his 153rd test match in 2008.
Not only that, in those next 47 test matches he played for India, he scored 3769 runs at an average of 52.34 with 12 tons.
Root is currently 34, and can stretch his career for at least 4-5 years if he can stay fit. With the number of test matches England play every season, there is a certain possibility that Root can end up playing more than 200 test matches in his career.
Even if he plays 47 more test matches and bats at least 75 innings, he would need 2915 test runs at an average of 38.87.
With the current form Joe Root is in, this is quite possible for him to get. But, will he be able to keep the form like Sachin had done at the age of 35 and after? That's the question the World Cricket will be eyeing.
Youngest Indian cricketers to score an international century
Sachin Tendulkar leads the inspiring list of youngest Indian cricketers to score an international century, with his unbeaten 119 against England in 1990. Discover who else achieved this milestone at an young age.
Every young cricketer dreams of scoring a century for their nation on an international stage. But for a precious few, that dream became a jaw-dropping reality early in their careers.
India has been gifted with such memorable centuries by youngsters who later turned out to be cricketing legends. We are talking about Sachin Tendulkar and his unmatched legacy in the list of the youngest Indians to score an international century.
Check out the other names that follow up with their quality batting skills.
1. Sachin Tendulkar (17 years 107 days) | 1990
Saching Tendulkar getting praised by fellow cricketers as he walks down after his unbeaten 119 against ENG in 1990. | Mint
Sachin Tendulkar is the youngest Indian cricketer ever and the 3rd youngestoverall to score an international century with his maiden century at Old Trafford, in August 1990. At just 17 years and 107 days old, he scored an unbeaten 119 in the fourth innings, helping India to save the Test match against England.
Sachin not only announced his arrival on the global stage with this knock, but also helped India secure a draw in the test.
Prithvi Shaw celebrating his maiden Test century in 2018. Image | Instagram
Prithvi Shaw became the youngest Indian to score a century on Test debut and the second-youngest in this list of international centuries with his knock against the West Indies in October 2018. He was only 18 years and 329 days old at that time.
He reached his hundred in 99 balls and scored 134 runs in that innings, which marked a spectacular test debut.
3. Kapil Dev (20 years 18 days) | 1979
Kapil Dev representing India in tests. Image | Khel Now
India's legendary all-rounder, Kapil Dev, holds the third place with his century against the West Indies on home soil in 1979. It was his first test century, at the age of 20 years and 18 days. He was 126 not out in the particular innings.
4. Abbas Ali Baig (20 years 126 days) | 1959
Abbas Ali Baig representing India. Image | Getty Images
Abbas Ali Baig scored his first test century at the age of 20 years and 126 days against England in July 1959. This made him the first Indian to score a century on Test debut outside India and the fourth youngest centurion in this elite list.
Apart from his brilliant achievements in the field of cricket, he is also famously remembered for being kissed by a female fan during a Test match in Bombay.
Madhav Apte batting in a cricket match. Image | Facebook
The former Indian test opener, Madhav Apte, scored his only test century at the age of 20 years 137 days in January 1953 against the West Indies. He made 163 not out in the fifth test of the series.
Despite the impressive century and a good tour, his Test career was surprisingly short-lived, playing only 7 tests.
6. Ajay Ratra (20 years 148 days) | 2002
Ajay Ratra representing India in tests. Image | ESPNcricinfo
Ajay Ratra is a former wicket-keeper batter who also had a short-lived test career, comprising 6 test matches. However, he scored an impactful century at only 20 years and 148 days of age, which puts him in the 6th place for the youngest Indian cricketers to score an international century.
He scored this in May 2002 against the West Indies and helped India secure a draw on a flat pitch.
7. Ravi Shastri (20 years 248 days) | 1983
Ravi Shastri in action for India in tests. Image | BBC
Ravi Shastri scored his first test century in January 1983 at the age of 20 years and 248 days. He scored 128 in that innings against Pakistan's strong pace attack led by Imran Khan.
This innings transitioned him into an opening batsman, showcasing his finest skills and ability to adapt.
Vijay Manjrekar playing for India. Image| ESPNcricinfo
Vijay Manjrekar delivered a key performance on the international stage early in his career with his Test century against England in 1952. At the age of 20 years and 253 days, he stood elegantly against a great English bowling attack.
9. Gundappa Viswanath (20 years 276 days) | 1969
Gundappa Viswanath representing India in tests. Image | LatestLY
Gundappa Viswanath holds the 9th position with his maiden Test century against Australia in 1969, when he was 20 years and 276 days old. After a duck in his first innings, he bounced back with a magnificent 136 runs in the second innings.
This knock brought him into the limelight at an early age, and also helped the nation see his ability to score underpressure.
Rishabh Pant celebrating his maiden Test century in 2018 against England. Image | DNA
Rishabh Pant's aggressive and fearless approach came into light with his maiden Test century at 20 years and 338 days of age, making his way to the Top 10 youngest Indian cricketers to score an international century.
With this performance in 2018, Pant also became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a test century in England.
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