Cricket has its own heroes, glitz, glamour and cult following. There are cricketers who have taken the game globally, not just with performances but also with a display of true sportsmanship on the field.
Here we take a look at the 7 most loved current cricketers in the world
KANE WILLIAMSON
Kane Williamson is the first person, who comes to the mind of the people when they hear the word Gentleman. The New Zealand captain is such a calm person and a terrific personality which attracts not only Kiwi fans but also the cricket fans around the world. Right from the start of his career when he entered the scene in the U19 World Cup, Williamson always caught the attention of the Cricket fans with his stroke play and his ability to play under pressure.
CHRIS GAYLE
The UNIVERSE-BOSS, Chris Gayle is one of the wonderful personalities going around in Cricket. Though Gayle is at the fag end of his career, he never fails to entertain people whenever he steps onto the field. The hard-hitting left-hander burst into the scene way back in 2000, 19 years ago, there was this tall guy from Jamaica, who played with no fear, and blasted bowlers at will. Gayle’s uber-cool attitude and his aggressive batting made him an instant favorite for the cricket fans around the world.
DWAYNE BRAVO
The Champion from the West Indies, Dwayne Bravo is one of the most loved cricketers around the world. Bravo made his debut in 2004 against England and slowly made his mark into the international career. The all-rounder became famous personality once the franchise cricket started to take center stage, becoming a hot pick in almost all the franchise cricket around the world. His celebrations in the field have become one of the trademark celebrations.
AB de VILLERS
360, as fondly called by cricket lovers around the world, AB de Villiers just gave a shock to all the Cricket lovers when he announced his sudden retirement from International Cricket. But the good thing was, AB never stopped playing the franchise cricket and continued to play the franchise cricket around the world. The South African gets cheers wherever he plays, irrespective of home or away. Fans of all teams would want ABD to get runs even if he is playing against their favorite teams, such is the craze of ABD. There have been talks of him returning to International Cricket and as a cricket lover, one can only hope that it happens.
DALE STEYN
The Steyn-Gun, Dale Steyn is one of the Greatest Bowlers of All time. Steyn is one bowler who could torment the opposition batsmen at ease. The fast bowler’s raw pace and his ability to swing the ball made him the toughest bowler for the Batsmen he bowled to. Steyn may not be as lethal as he was a few years ago, but his intensity and pace are still sky-high which makes him the most loved cricketers around the world.
BABAR AZAM
The dynamic dashing classy Right-Hand Batsmen from Pakistan, Babar Azam has made a name for himself in the international cricket. Babar has made giant strides in his short career and is already compared with Virat Kohli, which in itself explains how good he has been. The top-order batsman has been carrying the Pakistan batting solely in his shoulders of late.
LASITH MALINGA
The Slinga-Malinga from Sri Lanka, Lasith Malinga made everyone sit and take note of him when he made his test debut in 2004 against Australia with his Slinging Action and curly hair. Malinga was just different from everyone else. The Sri Lankanhogged headlines when he picked 4 wickets in 4 balls against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup and soon became most sought after player in T20 franchise cricket around the world.
SPECIAL MENTION
MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI
MS Dhoni, the iceman of cricket, has personality cricket fans can only admire. Dhoni hardly shows any emotions on the field, even in the pressure situations. India’s World Cup-winning captain’s cricketing exploits and achievements are known to everyone.
(Image Courtesy: Reuters)