Every cricket series has that one player who shines brighter than others. The player with the highest runs or wickets gets his efforts recognized by the Man of the series award. Players are presented glorious individual trophies and cash prizes as the award. There have been several instances of a player winning the award from the losing side.
Different matches, different heroes are what we have seen over the years. Yet there is a player who provides crucial and consistent contribution in the entire series. Here’s a list of top players with the highest number of Man of The Series awards:
Tests
| MOTS (Tests) | Matches | No. of MOTS Awards |
| Muthiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka) | 133 | 11 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin (India) | 92 | 10 |
| Jacques Kallis (South Africa) | 166 | 9 |
| Imran Khan (Pakistan) | 88 | 8 |
| Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) | 86 | 8 |
| Shane Warne (Australia) | 145 | 8 |
| Wasim Akram (Pakistan) | 104 | 7 |
| Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) | 164 | 7 |
| Malcolm Marshall (West Indies) | 81 | 6 |
| Curtly Ambrose (West Indies) | 98 | 6 |
1) Muthiah Muralidaran
With 800 wickets to his name, Muralidaran is the most successful bowler in Tests. The Sinhalese legend has averaged six wickets per Test. Murali was a nightmare for any batsman on any pitch. His unorthodox release made the deliveries unpredictable.
With so many incredible performances and records, Murali won the Man Of The Series award in 19 series.
2) Ravichandran Ashwin
Indian spinner R Ashwin is an underrated player of the modern generation. The new age “Spin King” has been crucial with not only the ball but also the bat. Ashwin currently stands as India’s second highest wicket taker in Tests. Interestingly, India have never lost a Test when Ashwin has scored a century.
Ashwin currently holds 10 Man Of the series awards in Tests and he needs only more to surpass Muralidaran.
3) Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis is arguably South Africa’s best all-rounder ever. His career has been full of vital contributions with both, bat and ball. The Protea all-rounder is also their highest runs scorer in Tests.
In 2013, Kallis finished his Test career with 9 Man Of The Series awards.
4) Imran Khan
Former Pakistani all-rounder Imran Khan was a certified legend of the oldest format. His bowling records make him the third highest wicket taker from Pakistan in Tests. Khan scored 3,807 Test runs, leaving behind many other big names of the past and present.
Khan was named the Man of The Series on 8 occasions.
5) Sir Richard Hadlee
Sir Richard Hadlee is a former Kiwi bowling all-rounder with many Test records in his kitty. Hadlee inked his name in the records’ book when he became the first ever bowler to reach 400 Test wickets.
6) Shane Warne
Shane Warne was a proven match winner for Australia. Warne registered himself as the second most successful bowler in Test cricket. His drifting deliveries always left the batsman astonished.
The late Australian legend was declared as the Man of the series in 8 Test series.
7) Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram has been Pakistan’s most successful bowler till date. The former Pak skipper stands tall in Pakistan’s cricket history with 414 Test wickets. Akram along with other pacers hasbowled numerous match winning spells to help Pakistan emerge victorious on multiple occasions.
Akram was awarded the man of the series award in 7 Test series.
8) Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is a former Guyanese cricketer who represented West Indies till 2015. Till date he stands as West Indies’ second most successful batsman in the red ball format. Apart from his batting statistics, Chanderpaul is hilariously remembered for his unique batting stance.
Chanderpaul won the Man of the series 7 times in Tests.
9) Malcolm Marshall
Malcolm Marshall was part of the terrific trio of pacemen that played for the West Indies. Marshall scalped 376 wickets in 81 Tests.
Marshall won the Man Of The Series in 6 Test series.
10) Curtly Ambrose
Curtly Ambrose is one of the most lethal pacers to have played for the West Indies. Ambrose retired with 405 wickets, second highest in Tests for West Indies.
The former Antiguan pacer won the man of the series in 6 Tests.
ODI
| MOTS (ODI) | Matches | No. of MOTS Awards |
| Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 463 | 15 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) | 445 | 11 |
| Virat Kohli (India) | 274 | 10 |
| Shaun Pollock (South Africa) | 303 | 9 |
| Chris Gayle (West Indies) | 301 | 8 |
| Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies) | 187 | 7 |
| Hashim Amla (South Africa) | 181 | 7 |
| Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) | 232 | 7 |
| Yuvraj Singh (India) | 304 | 7 |
| Sourav Ganguly (India) | 311 | 7 |
- Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin’s white ball career meant only ODIs as he played only one T20I. His ODI success was completely similar to his Test success. The 23 years long ODI career consisted of 18,426 runs, 49 centuries and 154 wickets.
World’s highest ODI run scorer, Sachin Tendulkar won the MOTS Award in 15 ODI series.
2) Sanath Jayasuriya
Sri Lanka’s prolific left handed batsman, Sanath Jayasuriya was lethal in the 50 over format. Jayasuriya is Sri Lanka’s second highest run scorer in ODIs. Surprisingly, Jayasuriya has 320 ODI wickets to his name, making him Lanka’s fourth most successful ODI bowler.
His all round performances led him to the Man of the series award in 11 ODI series.
3) Virat Kohli
The only active player in the list, Virat Kohli is an established ODI legend. The chasemaster has registered 12,898 runs in the 50 over format. Virat has smashed 46 ODI centuries, second highest in the world. He is also India’s second highest ODI run scorer.
The former Indian skipper currently holds 10 ODI MOTS awards.
4) Shaun Pollock
The Protea speedster has been their most successful bowler in ODIs till date. His legacy might remain the same for ages in the records book for ODIs.
Pollock has received 9 Man of the series awards in ODIs.
5) Chris Gayle
The “Universe Boss” has been an entertainer in limited overs cricket. Chris Gayle’s career has been full of tons all the way. In his 20 years long ODI career, Gayle paved his path to reach the top of West Indies’ top scorer of ODIs.
Gayle went on to win 8 Man Of The Series awards in ODIs.
6) Sir Vivian Richards
Sir Viv Richards has been a legend of his generation. He recorded himself as West Indies’ fifth highest run scorer. Apart from his excellent batting, Richards also scalped more than 100 wickets in ODI.
The veteran went on to win the Man of the series in 7 ODI series.
7) Hashim Amla
Amla has been South Africa’s most prolific yet underrated opener. He’s overall South Africa’s third highest run scorer in ODIs.
Amla won 7 Man of The Series awards in ODIs.
8) Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan has been one of the finest Asian all-rounders in modern day cricket. Shakib has almost been a part of Bangladesh’s recent memorable and iconic ODI matches.
Shakib won 7 Man of the series awards in ODIs.
9) Yuvraj Singh
India’s very own all rounder Yuvraj Singh has been a star of the 50 overs format. Fans can never get over his 2011 Cricket World Cup performances. His aggressive finishing and iconic part time bowling helped India in crucial times.
Yuvi went on to win 7 Man of the series awards in ODIs.
10) Sourav Ganguly
One of India’s most successful captains and batsmen, Sourav Ganguly had a terrific ODI career. Ganguly’s ODI career consists of 11,363 runs making him India’s third highest run scorer in ODIs. He also picked 100 wickets in the 50 over format.
Sourav Ganguly was awarded the MOTS in 7 ODI series.
T20I
| MOTS (T20I) | Matches | No. of MOTS Awards |
| Virat Kohli (India) | 115 | 7 |
| Babar Azam (Pakistan) | 104 | 5 |
| Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) | 85 | 4 |
| Glenn Maxwell (Australia) | 98 | 4 |
| David Warner (Australia) | 99 | 4 |
| Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) | 115 | 4 |
| Mohammed Hafeez (Pakistan) | 119 | 4 |
| Tim Seifert (New Zealand) | 43 | 3 |
| Suryakumar Yadav (India) | 48 | 3 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) | 58 | 3 |
- Virat Kohli
Indian superstar and former skipper, Virat Kohli is the most successful T20I batsmen in the world. Virat crossed the 4000 runs mark leaving other competitors far away. Virat Kohli was top run scorer in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
Virat received the MOTS Award in 7 T20I series.
- Babar Azam
The Pakistani skipper has been on a roll in the shortest format or cricket. Babar and his partner yet compatriot, Rizwan have taken Pakistan to winning ways in many encounters. Babar was the highest run scorer in the ICC T20 World Cup.
Babar Azam has been awarded the Man of the series in 5 T20I series.
- Mohammad Rizwan
Pakistan’s star keeper-opener Mohammad Rizwan has widely contributed to Pak’s T20I success. Rizwan currently stands as Pakistan’s second highest T20I run scorer.
Rizwan has won 4 Man Of The Series awards in his ongoing career.
- Glenn Maxwell
The Australian “Big Show” has always rescued the side from the toughest circumstances, be it with the bat or the ball. His explosive knocks and clutch breakthroughs make him a fine all-rounder of this generation. As of 2023, Maxwell is Australia’s third highest run scorer.
Maxwell has won 4 MOTS Awards in the shortest format.
- David Warner
Australia’s aggressive left handed opener, David Warner is a superstar of the shortest format. Warner currently stands as Australia’s second highest run scorer in the shortest format. His 289 runs at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 helped Australia lift the title. His heroics led to him being adjourned as the Player of the Tournament.
Warner won the MOTS award in 4 T20I series.
- Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh’s legendary all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been a lone warrior in the shortest format. In his long yet active career, Shakib has displayed some top knocks and clutch spells.
Shakib has received 4 MOTS Awards in T20Is.
- Mohammad Hafeez
Popularly known as ‘Professor’, Hafeez had a long run for the Men In Green. Hafeez was destructive with the bat and handy with the ball. He stands as Pakistan’s third most successful batter in T20Is.
Hafeez won the MOTS 4 times in his long T20I career.
- Tim Seifert
The Kiwi keeper-batsman has been a decent example versatility after having played successful knocks at different positions. Seifert played a key role in defeating Australia and Sri Lanka in bilateral tours in 2023.
Seifert has won 3 MOTS Awards in T20Is.
- Suryakumar Yadav
India’s latest sensation and star batter, Suryakumar Yadav seems to be ruling the shortest format of the game. Within 2 years of his T20I career, the middle order batsman has 3 centuries. His “videogame” style innings have kept the fans close to their seats. Surya also won ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of 2022.
‘SKY’ has received the MOTS in 4 T20I series.
- Wanindu Hasaranga
Sri Lanka’s star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been proving his worth with both bat and ball. The all-rounder is known for his classic spells and handy knocks. He was declared as the player of the tournament in the Asia Cup 2022 for his all-round performances. Hasaranga consecutively emerged as the most successful bowler in the T20 World Cup editions of 2021 and 2022.
Hasaranga so far has won 3 Man Of The Series in T20Is.
Also read: Most Runs in International Cricket – Top 10 Players
FAQs
What is the most unique Man of the series award ever seen?
Jasprit Bumrah won a mini truck after winning the award against Sri Lanka.
