In a game of cricket, all players try to give their best when they take the field. While the bowlers try to bowl their best possible spell, the batters eye a knock of the ages. With these exceptional performances, the best performer of the day gets rewarded with the Player of the Match award. The Player of the Match award stands as a recognition of impact, influence and excellence under pressure.
Over the years, several players have turned out for the award, whether through a match-changing knock or a spellbinding bowling. Some players have just achieved this recognition on numerous occasions, including legend Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, and veteran Virat Kohli, thus making to the list of players to win most POTM awards. Here in this article, let’s take a look at the top few players with the most POTM awards in ODIs.
Players with most POTM awards in ODIs
Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting & Shahid Afridi (32 POTM awards)
The fourth place is occupied by three cricketers, who have been one of the best during their playing days. Each of Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting and Shahid Afridi have won the Player of the Match award 32 times in ODIs.
Virat Kohli (45 POTM awards)
After adding one more award to his decorated cabinet, Virat Kohli is at third place with 45 Player of the Match awards in ODI cricket. With Kohli only being active now in the 50-over format, he could surpass Sanath Jayasuriya, who is just three ahead of him.
Sanath Jayasuriya (48 POTM awards)
Former Sri Lanka captain and one of the greats of the game, Sanath Jayasuriya, is second in the list to have won most Player of the Match awards. In 445 matches during his playing days from 1989 till 2011, Jayasuriya won the award 48 times.
Sachin Tendulkar (62 POTM awards)
Known as the ‘God od Cricket’, Sachin Tendulkar sits at the top of the list of players with the most Player of the Match awards in ODI cricket. During his stint from 1989 to 2012, Tendulkar won 62 Player of the Match awards, a record which stands long unbeaten.
List of players with most Player of the Match awards in ODIs
| Player | Span | Matches | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 1989-2012 | 463 | 62 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 1989-2011 | 445 | 48 |
| Virat Kohli | 2008-2026 | 309 | 45 |
| Jacques Kallis | 1996-2014 | 328 | 32 |
| Ricky Ponting | 1995-2012 | 375 | 32 |
| Shahid Afridi | 1996-2015 | 398 | 32 |
| Viv Richards | 1975-1991 | 187 | 31 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 1992-2007 | 311 | 31 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 2000-2015 | 404 | 31 |
| Brian Lara | 1990-2007 | 299 | 30 |
FAQs
Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar has received the most Player of the Match awards in ODI cricket history, with 62.
Former Indian skipper and batting stalwart Virat Kohli has received the maximum number of Player of the Match awards, 45.
Virat Kohli’s most recent Player of the Match award came on January 11, 2026 for his match-winning 93-run knock in the first ODI vs New Zealand.
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