Five players with the most man-of-the-match awards in international cricket

Cricketers strive to help their side reign supreme on the cricket field. They put it all on the line just for the sake of their team, their fans and above all, for the game itself. The weight of expectations is immense and while some falter, but some shine like diamonds.

Thus is fair to say that the competition on a cricket field is tremendous and being able to outshine 21 other cricketers on a given day is quite an achievement and deserves some appreciation which is presented in the form of the man-of-the-match award.

Being recognized the best player in a match is an honour which only a few cricketers have had the privilege to enjoy. A plethora of world-class players have played the game of cricket but when it comes to all-time awards tally, then only a handful of the greats standout simply because of their consistency.

Here we list down top five cricketers who've won the most number of man-of-the-match awards in international cricket.

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#5 Kumar Sangakkara - 50

New Zealand v Sri Lanka - 2nd Test: Day 2

Sri Lanka has produced some of the all-time greats of the game and Kumar Sangakkara is one of them. The dashing wicket-keeper batsman was a prolific run-scorer who is often reckoned as one of the most elegant left-handers to play the game. From his beautiful shots to his admirable temperament, Sangakkara was a complete package at the top of the order.

His deeds with the bat as well as behind the stumps have earned him a lot of praises and man-of-the-matches as well. Sangakkara won it a total of 50 times in his illustrious career. 16 awards in Test cricket, 31 in ODIs and 3 in T20Is truly explain why the former Sri Lankan skipper is one of the finest all-format cricketers to ever play the game.

#4 Virat Kohli - 56*

West Indies v India - One Day International Series

The Indian run-machine Virat Kohli has truly been one of the most dynamic cricketers of his generation and has broken records for fun. His sheer determination makes him a fierce competitor and it is no secret that the Indian skipper has been pivotal to what many label as a glorious period of Indian cricket, especially on the Test front.

His persistence in the middle has helped him grab 56 man-of-the-match awards in his time as an international cricketer so far and by looking at his fitness, it will be a folly to say that the number won't grow. He is the only active cricketer on this list which makes Kohli's achievements all the more special.

Having won 9 awards in Test cricket, 35 in ODIs and 12 in T20Is, one thing is pretty crystal clear Kohli is the jack of all formats and a master of them too.

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#3 Jacques Kallis - 57

South Africa v Sri Lanka - ICC Champions Trophy

Undoubtedly the greatest all-rounder of the modern game, Jacques Kallis is a legend of the sport in every sense. From his majestic batting to his effective bowling, Kallis was a skilful player who always influenced the game in one way or other. Runs, wickets or man-of-the-match awards, Kallis is found in every glorious list.

Kallis was named the man-of-the-match on 57 occasions in his long, successful international career which truly highlights his ability. The breakdown of Kallis's tally is as follows: 32 in ODIs, 23 in Test cricket and 2 in T20Is. He helped Proteas in numerous encounters with his sheer brilliance and it won't be won't be wrong to say that an on-song Kallis was a petrifying sight for the opponents.

#2 Sanath Jayasuriya - 58

West Indies v Sri Lanka - ICC Twenty20 World Cup

There haven't been many cricketers as impactful as the mighty Sanath Jayasuriya. The Sri Lankan southpaw was a wrecking-machine who scored heaps of runs in all formats of the game. Jayasuriya is famously remembered for his ferocious style of play and it won't be wrong to say that on his day, Jayasuriya was a force to be reckoned with.

His ability to counterattack made him a fearsome opener and such was the status of Jayasuriya that even the fiercest of bowling units looked pale in front of his menacing strokeplay. He is often considered as one of the greatest cricketers of all-time and his number of man-of-the-match awards rightly support the argument.

The Sri Lankan legend was adjudged the best player on 48 occasions in ODI cricket, a remarkable return for a truly special player. Add to it the four awards he received in Test cricket and six in T20Is, Jayasuriya is one of the most decorated cricketers of all-time.

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#1 Sachin Tendulkar - 76

India v New Zealand - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Semi-Final

Like numerous other lists, Sachin Tendulkar is on the top of this one as well having won a total of 76 man-of-the-match awards in his iconic career. The Indian stalwart is often considered as one of the most gifted cricketers to ever play the game and there is no arguing that he is one of the greatest cricketers of all time. His contribution to his team and the sport has been immense and he has been well acknowledged for that.

Tendulkar has had the honour of lifting the man-of-the-match trophy on 62 occasions in ODI cricket and 14 times in Test cricket. The genius batsman didn't manage to win the award in T20 cricket but that is understandable considering the fact he represented India in just one fixture. Tendulkar might have lifted the trophy in T20I cricket as well had the advent of it been a little earlier.