You’re watching your team chase 280. They’re 180 for 6 with 12 overs left.
The tail’s exposed, the asking rate’s climbing, and your best bowler hasn’t batted yet.
That’s when you need a proper all-rounder—someone who doesn’t just pad the stats but wins matches when they’re slipping away.
All-rounders aren’t a luxury in ODI cricket; they’re the backbone.
They give captains breathing room, balance the side, and turn pressure into momentum.
From Kapil Dev lifting the 1983 World Cup to Shakib Al Hasan holding Bangladesh’s middle order together while spinning through the opposition, the best ODI all-rounders of all time have done more than play two roles. They’ve defined eras.
Best ODI All-Rounders of All Time
What Makes an All-Rounder Truly Great in ODIs?
Not everyone who bowls a few overs and bats at seven qualifies.
The best all-rounders consistently deliver in both departments under pressure.
They average 30+ with the bat or 30- with the ball, often both.
They don’t disappear when conditions get tough—they step up.
Unlike Test cricket, where all-rounders can pace themselves across five days, ODI cricket demands instant impact.
You’ve got 50 overs to win or lose.
That’s why strike rates matter as much as averages, and economy rates can decide knockout games.
The tactical value is massive too. A genuine all-rounder gives you five proper bowlers and seven batters.
It’s the difference between defending 260 comfortably and sweating at 280.
Top 22 Best ODI All-Rounders of All Time
Here’s a detailed look at the cricketers who’ve set the standard for all-round excellence in ODI cricket:
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Runs | Batting Average | Wickets | Bowling Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 445 | 13,430 | 32.36 | 323 | 36.75 |
| 2 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 328 | 11,579 | 44.36 | 273 | 31.79 |
| 3 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 398 | 8,064 | 23.57 | 395 | 34.51 |
| 4 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 247 | 7,570 | 37.29 | 317 | 29.52 |
| 5 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 463 | 18,426 | 44.83 | 154 | 44.48 |
| 6 | Kapil Dev | India | 225 | 3,783 | 23.79 | 253 | 27.45 |
| 7 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 356 | 3,717 | 16.52 | 502 | 23.52 |
| 8 | Imran Khan | Pakistan | 175 | 3,709 | 33.41 | 182 | 26.61 |
| 9 | Chris Cairns | New Zealand | 215 | 4,950 | 29.46 | 201 | 32.80 |
| 10 | Andrew Flintoff | England | 141 | 3,394 | 32.01 | 169 | 24.38 |
Top 10 Best ODI All-Rounders of All Time: Detailed Breakdown
- Sanath Jayasuriya: The Pioneer Who Redefined Aggression
Jayasuriya didn’t wait for the powerplay to end.
He attacked from ball one, treating new-ball bowlers like net practice.
In 1996, he smashed 955 runs at a strike rate of 112—unheard of in that era.
That was the template modern ODI cricket would follow two decades later.
With 13,430 runs and 323 wickets across 445 matches, Jayasuriya was the complete package.
His left-arm spin wasn’t just a part-time option; it broke partnerships when Sri Lanka needed control.
He’s still fifth on the all-time ODI run-scorers list and among the top 15 wicket-takers.
- Jacques Kallis: The Anchor Who Never Missed
Kallis wasn’t flashy, but he was relentless. An average of 44.36 with the bat and 273 wickets with his accurate seamers made him invaluable across 18 years.
South Africa rarely lost when Kallis fired—and he fired often.
He’s arguably the best Test all-rounder of all time too, which shows the consistency he brought across formats.
In ODIs, his ability to rebuild innings and then chip in with crucial breakthroughs made him irreplaceable.
- Shahid Afridi: Chaos Personified
Afridi scored the fastest ODI century on debut in 1996—a record that stood for 18 years.
His 117 strike rate is still the highest among batters with 5,000+ ODI runs.
Add 395 wickets with his leg-spin, and you’ve got someone who could single-handedly swing a game in three overs.
He wasn’t conventional, and his batting average reflects that.
But Afridi didn’t care about averages.
He cared about winning—and his strike rate and wicket tally show he did plenty of that.
- Shakib Al Hasan: Bangladesh’s Lone Warrior
Shakib’s been ranked number one in the ICC all-rounder rankings for over 1,700 days.
That’s not luck—that’s sustained excellence.
With 7,570 runs and 317 wickets, he’s carried Bangladesh’s hopes for nearly two decades.
His left-arm spin is economical and wicket-taking, and his batting is calm under pressure.
Shakib doesn’t play for personal milestones; he plays to drag Bangladesh across the line when no one else can.
- Sachin Tendulkar: The Master Who Did Everything
Known as the God of Cricket for his batting, Tendulkar’s bowling often gets overlooked.
He took 154 ODI wickets, including two five-wicket hauls, with his deceptive leg-spin and off-spin variations.
With 18,426 runs, 49 centuries, and the first-ever ODI double-century, Tendulkar’s batting speaks for itself.
But his ability to give captains 10 overs when needed made him a genuine all-rounder, not just a batting legend who could bowl.
Top 5 Best All-Rounder in Cricket History: The Legends Across Formats
If we’re talking all formats, the conversation shifts slightly:
- Garfield Sobers – Often called the greatest all-rounder ever, Sobers dominated Test cricket with bat and ball.
- Imran Khan – Led Pakistan to World Cup glory while excelling as a fast bowler and middle-order bat.
- Jacques Kallis – Consistent across Tests and ODIs, he’s in every best all-rounder conversation.
- Ben Stokes – The modern-day match-winner who’s already delivered iconic performances in all three formats.
- Kapil Dev – India’s original all-rounder and 1983 World Cup hero.
Best Test All-Rounders of All Time
Test cricket demands endurance, skill, and mental toughness.
The best all-rounders here include Kallis, Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee, Ian Botham, and Kapil Dev.
These players didn’t just contribute—they defined their teams’ strategies across decades.
Best ODI All-Rounders of All Time India
India’s produced several quality all-rounders:
- Kapil Dev – The original. 253 wickets and 3,783 runs.
- Yuvraj Singh – 8,701 runs and 111 wickets. Match-winner in the 2011 World Cup.
- Ravindra Jadeja – 2,806 runs and 231 wickets, with brilliant fielding.
- Hardik Pandya – The modern power-hitter and seamer who’s still building his legacy.
Best ODI All-Rounders of All Time T20
T20 cricket values explosiveness and economy. Some ODI legends transitioned well, while others emerged specifically in T20s:
- Shakib Al Hasan – Elite across formats.
- Andre Russell – Pure power with bat and ball.
- Hardik Pandya – India’s premier T20 all-rounder.
- Glenn Maxwell – Can turn games in five overs with bat or ball.
ODI All-Rounder Ranking: Current Top Performers
| Position | Player | Country | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 302 |
| 2 | Azmatullah Omarzai | Afghanistan | 296 |
| 3 | Mohammad Nabi | Afghanistan | 292 |
| 4 | Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Bangladesh | 249 |
| 5 | Michael Bracewell | New Zealand | 246 |
Azmatullah Omarzai won ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2024.
He’s averaging nearly 47 with the bat and taking wickets regularly.
Afghanistan’s rise has a lot to do with all-rounders like him, Nabi, and Rashid Khan giving them balance and depth.
Expert Insight: Why All-Rounders Define ODI Success
The difference between winning and losing in knockout cricket often comes down to balance.
Teams with genuine all-rounders can afford aggressive selections—an extra seamer, a second spinner, or a deeper batting lineup.
Think about India’s 2011 World Cup win.
Yuvraj Singh wasn’t just Man of the Tournament for his batting.
His 15 wickets provided crucial breakthroughs when the frontline bowlers were being attacked.
That’s the all-rounder impact—filling gaps when plans fall apart.
Similarly, England’s 2019 World Cup triumph had Ben Stokes anchoring the middle order and Chris Woakes providing seam depth.
When the game’s tight, all-rounders don’t panic.
They’ve been in both roles too many times to freeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is the best all-rounder in cricket history?
Garfield Sobers is often considered the greatest across formats, but in ODIs specifically, Sanath Jayasuriya and Jacques Kallis lead the conversation.
- Who has the most wickets as an all-rounder in ODI cricket?
Wasim Akram tops the list with 502 ODI wickets, though his batting was lower-order focused. Among batting all-rounders, Shahid Afridi’s 395 wickets stand out.
- Which all-rounder has the best bowling average in ODIs?
Richard Hadlee holds one of the best bowling averages among all-rounders at 21.56, though his ODI career was shorter than modern greats.
- Has any all-rounder scored a double-century and taken five wickets in the same ODI?
No. That remains one of cricket’s rarest potential achievements.
- Who are the upcoming ODI all-rounders to watch?
Azmatullah Omarzai, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Michael Bracewell are rising stars showing consistent performances with both bat and ball.
Why Jayasuriya Stands Above the Rest
Sanath Jayasuriya didn’t just succeed as an all-rounder—he changed how cricket was played.
His aggressive opening transformed ODI tactics, and his left-arm spin gave Sri Lanka control in the middle overs.
With over 13,000 runs and 300+ wickets, the numbers back the legacy.
The other names on this list—Kallis, Afridi, Shakib, Kapil, Wasim—are legends in their own right.
They’ve shaped matches, inspired generations, and proven that all-rounders aren’t just useful.
They’re essential.
Also Check:
About the Author
