22 Stunning Most Underrated Cricketers of All Time (Updated)

Many underrated cricketers have not received the fame they deserve, even after performing well. That’s why we made a list of the most underrated cricketers of all time. From this list, you will decide who is the most underrated cricketer, and we can show their contributions to the world.

Exceptional talents, consistent performance, and moments of brilliance created these heroes. Some have captured our hearts with their batting, some with their bowling, or their wicket-keeping. But they have always been in the shadow of superstars.

So why does this happen? Often, they were overshadowed by a teammate or played for less glamorous teams. But their contributions were immense. They stepped up in high-pressure situations, became cult heroes among true fans, and proudly served their countries.

Once Ian Chappell wrote on ESPNcricinfo that he asked Shane Warne about his thoughts on Laxman’s 286, and Warne told him that “

“I don’t think I bowled that badly.”

They absolutely did not deserve to be overlooked. To honor them fairly, we used strict criteria to select the most underrated cricketers of all time contenders. Every player on our list meets these strict standards:

Our Selection Criteria

• Played over 100 international matches.
• Batters: A Test average of 45+ or an ODI average of 40+.
• Bowlers: A Test economy rate under 3 or an ODI economy rate under 5.

          All-rounder: Any of the batting or bowling criteria should be met.

• Was overshadowed by a teammate.
• Delivered in high-pressure situations.
• He is a recognized cult hero.

In this way, we identify the truly underrated heroes. Now, onto the list you came for. Below, you’ll find our selection of the most underrated cricketers, complete with performance breakdowns and the reasons they never received the global acclaim they deserved.

The List of Most Underated Cricketers of All Time

22. Ravi Rampaul

• Full Name: Ravindranath Rampaul
• Date of Birth: October 15, 1984
• Place of Birth: Preysal, Trinidad and Tobago
• Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 
• Bowling: Right-Arm Fast-Medium Bowler 
• Batting: Left-Handed Bat

We often look for heroes in the spotlight, but what about the men who do the hard work in the shadows?

Ravi Rampaul, with his 100+ international matches, is one of them. In a stardust West Indies team with Chris Gayle, Pollard, Sammy, Samuels, and Dwayne Bravo, we easily overlook him. But in most of the pressure moments, he turned on.

Think back to the 2011 World Cup. Have you remembered who stepped up against India, taking 5 for 51?

None other than Rampaul. His ODI economy of 5.07 is solid, but the numbers don’t show his actual value. He was a cult hero for a few fans who loved his whole-hearted effort.

As commentator Ian Bishop, his mentor, once said to Cricbuzz, “Ravi Rampaul is a big loss, particularly in white ball cricket and all formats. Despite all his injuries, he always showed he was a capable bowler – but unfortunately, that is gone, and we have to find ways to get other bowlers.” He may not have gotten the fame, but for those in the know, Ravi’s contribution was tremendous.

21. Morne Morkel

• Full Name: Morne Morkel
• Date of Birth: October 06, 1984
• Place of Birth: Vereeniging, Transvaal
• Height: 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 
• Bowling: Right-Arm Fast Bowler 
• Batting: Left-Handed Bat

So, how does a man with 309 Test wickets end up on a list like this? Well, that’s the Morne Morkel story in a nutshell. He consistently stepped up in high-pressure situations, yet he always played second fiddle to Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander.

He thrived under pressure, as demonstrated during the 2015 World Cup, where his consistent performance led South Africa to the semi-finals. His remarkable 9-wicket haul against the top-ranked Australia also secured the series victory in 2018.

Beyond the numbers, his Test economy of 3.10 seems tidy, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. You can call Morkel the workhorse who set the stage for others. With a towering figure, he delivered bone-jarring spells with his awkward bounce, creating pressure that allowed Steyn to clean up.

In his farewell test, Faf du Plessis told ESPNCricinfo, ” I want to be sitting here talking about Morne Morkel’s last Test match, or us as a team on the verge of creating history. We spend so much time talking about other things. This series has been so draining. We are feeling the blowout as well. I cannot imagine what it feels like in their dressing room.”

He was a hero for fans who value hard work. Frankly, he carried the water for one of history’s great attacks and deserves this spotlight.

20. Abdur Razzak

• Full Name: Abdur Razzak
• Date of Birth: June 15, 1982
• Place of Birth: Khulna
• Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 00 in) 
• Bowling: Slow left-arm Orthodox
• Batting: Left-Handed Bat

If you think Bangladesh’s spin legacy begins with Mohammed Rafique and ends with Shakib Al Hasan, you’re missing out on Abdur Razzak. The left-arm bowler quietly achieved 207 ODI wickets with an impressive economy rate of 4.56. While Shakib hogged the limelight, Razzak mastered the art of choking opponents in the middle overs.

Besides his 25 runs for 3 wickets against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup, he also took 5 wickets against them in 2010. This achievement allowed him to reach 200 wickets in ODIs, making him the first Bangladeshi bowler to accomplish this milestone.

We often brush aside such contributors, but Razzak’s economy rate (ODI: 4.56, Test: 3.32) and his role were to control the run rate and give breakthroughs, making him a saviour. It’s time we give him his respect because legends aren’t always the ones in the headlines.

19. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

• Full Name: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh
• Date of Birth: February 05, 1990
• Place of Birth: Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
• Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm Medium
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

It is hard to find a highly skilled swing bowler in the modern era. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is often overlooked in discussions of elite players.

We have to ask, why does a man with a knuckleball that dips like a Wiffle ball go unnoticed?

He can also swing the new ball both ways. Perhaps his career coincided with the rise of Bumrah and Shami. But make no mistake, his numbers hold up against the very best.

In ICC tournaments and RCB’s title-winning IPL season, the two-time IPL purple cap winner was a silent worker. He consistently performed well in high-pressure situations. His calmness made it seem effortless.

During the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, Bhuvi was amazing. He had a run rate of 3.91 runs. He took a total of 6 wickets and helped team India to win the Cup. In 2017, he also took 7 wickets.

Without a doubt, he is one of the most underrated cricketers ever, the quiet genius who never got the loudest cheers but always did the right work. It’s high time we give this artist the spotlight he deserves.

18. George Dockrell

• Full Name: George Henry Dockrell
• Date of Birth: July 22, 1992
• Place of Birth: Dublin
• Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 00 in) 
• Bowling: Slow left-arm Orthodox
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

You probably think of Paul Stirling’s explosive batting or Kevin O’Brien’s World Cup heroics. But what about the quiet left-armer who has been holding it all together for over a decade?

Now, meet George Dockrell, a strong contender for the most underrated cricketer from Ireland.

We often look past the players who do the dirty work, and Dockrell is the master of it. With over 130 caps, his left-arm spin boasts a miserly ODI economy rate of 4.90, consistently tying down world-class batters in the middle overs.

He’s the guy who turns down the volume on the opposition’s run rate, over after over. Not only that, his 74 runs off 61 balls against the Black Caps showed his batting caliber and fighting spirit.

We discovered him as a hero in the 2015 World Cup; his 3-wicket contributions helped Ireland to reach the group stage. So, the next time you tune into an Ireland match, watch number 50. You’ll be watching one of the game’s most underrated cricketers, the ultimate glue guy who never gets the glue.

17. Mehidy Hasan Miraz

• Full Name: Mehidy Hasan Miraz
• Date of Birth: October 25, 1997
• Place of Birth: Khulna
• Height: 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm Offbreak
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

We’re here for Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the most underrated cricketer you probably overlook. While superstars grab headlines, Miraz gets on with the job, propping up his team time and again.

In his debut Test series against England, with 19 wickets in that series, he established his caliber. Apart from his bowling, his recent scores of 97 against South Africa and 104 against Zimbabwe have shown how crucial he is for the Tigers.

Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza once noted, “Mehidy is a complete package as the management trusts him to bat at any position and he bowls 10 overs. And it’s not in the last two to three months; it has been over the last two years.”

He’s the essential all-rounder who flies under the radar, the most underrated cricketer of all time in the modern game. So next time Bangladesh pulls off a heist, look beyond the obvious. You’ll find Miraz, having quietly put in the shift, waiting for a spotlight that never quite finds him. It’s high time we give him his recognition.

16. Paul Colingwood

• Full Name: Paul David Collingwood
• Date of Birth: May 26, 1976
• Place of Birth: Shotley Bridge, Co Durham
• Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 
• Bowling: Right-arm medium
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

Three-time Ashes-winning former England skipper is next on our most underrated cricketers of all time list. Collingwood is a reliable all-rounder who usually builds innings often unnoticed in the shadow of Kevin Pietersen. He is not chasing headlines, but putting in the hard yards to become the ultimate savior in the middle order.

After England’s victorious 2010 World T20 campaign, his monumental career-best 206 against Australia in Adelaide was a knock of pure defiance that typified his career. Statisticians will tell you his average flew well above 40 in Test, proving he turned up when it mattered most.

So, let’s finally give this underrated cricketer due. Collingwood was not just a part of the team; he was the engine that kept it going. He makes a strong case for being one of England’s most underrated cricketers ever.

15. Thomas Odoyo

• Full Name: Thomas Odoyo Migai
• Date of Birth: May 12, 1978
• Place of Birth: Nairobi
• Height: N/A
• Bowling: Right arm medium fast
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

Thomas Odoyo is the most underrated cricketer ever in cricket history. This all-rounder became the first Kenyan to take 100 ODI wickets and the first non-test playing nation player to complete the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets. Yet somehow, he never got his due recognition on the global stage.

The Black Botham single-handedly kept Kenya cricket alive in the shadow of Tikolo when bigger nations barely gave them a second glance. With 136 ODI matches under his belt, scoring 2420 runs at 23.49 with his highest score of 111, he proved that talent knows no boundaries.

What sets Odoyo apart from other underrated cricketers isn’t just his numbers. He set a then-world record ODI seventh-wicket stand of 119 with Tony Suji in 1997-98, showing up when Kenya needed him most. This guy carried the hopes of an entire nation on his back.

However, the irony is that while contemporaries from major cricket nations grabbed headlines, Odoyo was busy breaking barriers as an Associate player. He deserves every bit of the spotlight we can shine on him today.

14. Tillakaratne Dilshan

• Full Name: Tillakaratne Mudiyanselage Dilshan
• Date of Birth: October 14, 1976
• Place of Birth: Kalutara
• Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 8 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm medium fast
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

How does a player who played over 400 international matches and invented the “Dilscoop” shot remain underrated?

Actually, we are more obsessed with Sangakkara, Jayawardene, and Muralitharan. That’s why we missed this gem.

Dilshan scored over 17,000 runs in international cricket. He also took more than 100 wickets. The leading run scorer of the 2011 World Cup with 500 runs, still, no one talks much about that. His 193 at Lord’s remains the highest score by a Sri Lankan at Lord’s, showcasing his big-match temperament. Meanwhile, his electric fielding, especially at the backward point, and his underrated offspin made him a complete package that most underrated cricketers can only dream of becoming.

Playing alongside legends like Sangakkara and Jayawardene meant Dilshan’s brilliance got lost in translation. Cricket’s most underrated cricketer deserved better.

13. Jonny Bairstow

• Full Name: Jonathan Marc Bairstow
• Date of Birth: September 26, 1989
• Place of Birth: Bradford, Yorkshire
• Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 
• Bowling: Right-arm medium
• Batting: Right-Handed Wicketkeeper Batter

While Root grabs media attention, Bairstow quietly cranks out the clutch hits. With 107 ODI matches and 3,868 runs averaging 42+, the Yorkshire gloveman deserves better recognition. He holds the world record for the highest sixth-wicket Test partnership with Ben Stokes at 399 against South Africa, which proves his class.

His 2022 home season tells the bigger story. Cricket legend Ian Bishop said, “Don’t poke the Bear that is Johnny Bairstow again, please,” after Bairstow’s counterattacking century in the fifth Test against India.

Bairstow hammered 681 runs in six Tests at an average of 75.66, single-handedly powering England’s Bazball revolution. Those numbers scream elite, but the spotlight stayed elsewhere.

When England needed someone to bail them out, Bairstow answered the call. He remains undervalued as one of the most underrated cricketers of all time. Sometimes, the true MVPs stay in the shadows of big names.

12. Rahmat Shah

• Full Name: Rahmat Shah Zurmatai
• Date of Birth: July 06, 1993
• Place of Birth: Paktia
• Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 
• Bowling: Right-arm Legbreak Googly
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

You know the harsh truth about cricket. Two sides of reality always exist. On one side, people talk more about Rashid Khan’s spin magic all over the world. On the other hand, no one talks about Afghanistan’s batting unit.

Rahmat Shah averages 46.19 in Tests and carries 123 ODIs under his belt, yet he remains the most underrated cricketer of all time.

Just remember, Shah was the highest Afghan run scorer in the 2023 World Cup with 320 runs after Zadran. Specifically against Sri Lanka, his 62 under pressure moment.

After the match, Trott said, “The thing I’m pleased about from the last game is we lost a wicket in the first over and Rahmat Shah was able to go into No. 3 and soak up that pressure but still kept scoring at a good tempo,” Trott said. “That shows the ability to soak up pressure at times, what you have to do in 50-over cricket, but also then accelerate at certain times.”

Rahmat has been the backbone of Afghanistan’s rise; Shah anchored every crucial partnership. Shah doesn’t light up social media feeds. Instead, he builds partnerships that win matches. That’s exactly why the most underrated cricketer deserves your attention now.

11. Rangana Herath

• Full Name: Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath
• Date of Birth: March 19, 1978
• Place of Birth: Kurunegala
• Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) 
• Bowling: Slow left-arm Orthodox
• Batting: Left-Handed Bat

We are talking about Rangana Herath, a very underrated bowler. He spent years in Muralitharan’s shadow. Yet, he became a match-winner when Sri Lanka needed him the most. In 2012, he was the top wicket-taker in Tests. He took 60 wickets with an average of 23.61.

As a slow left-armer, Herath didn’t spin the ball much, but used flight and pace changes to confuse batters. This approach worked well during Australia’s 2016 tour. Rangana Herath took 28 wickets.

This impressive performance made him the top wicket-taker of the series. He was also named Player of the Series as Sri Lanka won 3-0. Yet somehow, discussions about great left-arm spinners rarely mention his name first.

His 33 five-wicket hauls are the fifth-highest ever and the most for any active Test cricketer at the time of his peak. With 433 wickets in 93 Tests, placing eleventh, this underrated bowler deserves more recognition for his greatness.

10. Jason Gillespie

• Full Name: Jason Neil Gillespie
• Date of Birth: April 19, 1975
• Place of Birth: Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales
• Height: 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 
• Bowling: Right-Arm Fast
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

Now, we have reached our top 10 most underrated cricketers list. Playing alongside Australian golden era stars McGrath and Warne meant sharing headlines was nearly impossible. These bowlers were not just good. They were special talents that stood out and grabbed everyone’s attention.

Gillespie finished England’s second innings by taking three wickets in 14 balls at Trent Bridge after Shane Warne had troubled them. It perfectly captures his role in the team, the reliable wicket-taker who cleaned up while others grabbed headlines.

Compared to Allan Donald (46) and McGrath (50), his Test strike rate of 48 balls per wicket was exceptional. Steve Waugh didn’t mince words about his teammate’s ability, stating that “at his best, Gillespie is as good as any fast bowler Australia has produced.” That’s high praise from a captain who knew greatness when he saw it.

His legacy proves that being good is not always sufficient when among the all-time greats. But for those who paid attention, Gillespie was just as effective to Australia’s success as his more famous teammates.

9. Mohammad Nabi

• Full Name: Mohammad Nabi
• Date of Birth: January 01, 1985
• Place of Birth: Loger, Afghanistan
• Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm Offbreak
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

Mohammad Nabi played over 300 international matches for Afghanistan, but he rarely gets the spotlight he deserves. When we talk about the most underrated cricketer of all time, Mohammad Nabi is a must-choice pick.

A smart off-spinner with finishing ability scored 3500+ runs in ODIs and bowled with an economic rate of 4.30.

His solid play is often overlooked by teammates such as Rashid Khan. Recently, when Afghanistan was in trouble at 55 for 5, Nabi showed his fighting spirit and made 136 against Sri Lanka. He is not only good at batting, but his offspin also helps Afghanistan many times. In the 2019 World Cup against Sri Lanka, he took three wickets in an over. It was a big comeback moment.

Despite this, his skill in performing under pressure and helping his team win renders him one of the game’s most underrated cricketers today. It’s high time we shine a light on this unsung hero.

8. Jacob Oram

• Full Name: Jacob David Philip Oram
• Date of Birth: July 28, 1978
• Place of Birth: Palmerston North, Manawatu
• Height: 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm Fast medium
• Batting: Left-Handed Bat

Not only was it a career-defining moment, but Jacob Oram’s innings against Australia in 2007 also set a record. He scored a blistering 101 not out from just 72 deliveries. At that time, it was the fastest ODI century ever made by a Kiwi cricketer against Australia.

But Vettori caught all the limelight. You should be surprised that Oram was one of six New Zealanders who reached the milestone of 1,000 ODI runs and 100 wickets.

Oram’s actual value lay in his remarkable all-round performances. With the ball, his medium pace was surprisingly sharp. He had an ODI economy rate of 4.38. It showed his middle overs control run rate. We saw it in the 2011 World Cup against South Africa. His 4 wickets helped the Black Caps reach the semi-finals. In a world focused on superstars, Jacob Oram shows that the most underrated cricketers often make a significant impact.

7. Shaun Pollock

• Full Name: Shaun Maclean Pollock
• Date of Birth: July 16, 1973
• Place of Birth:  Port Elizabeth, Cape Province
• Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm Fast medium
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

When you think of cricket’s all-time greatest all-rounder, Shaun Pollock will definitely come to mind. With clinical accuracy and consistency, he won our hearts in the shadow of Jacques Kallis and proved why he is an underrated cricketer.

With 421 international Test wickets and an economy rate of 2.39, Pollock proved his effective contribution to the Proteas. While star players like Allan Donald received a lot of attention, Pollock did the hard work in the background. He bowled with a steady accuracy that wore down batting lineups.

From match-winning spells against Australia with 87 for 7, his career-best Test records helped South Africa win in Adelaide in 1998. Apart from bowling his handy lower-order batting, Pollock delivered when it mattered most. Especially his debut 66 runs against England. And almost every match, his cameo at no.7 was special for the Proteas.

Allan Donald said of Pollock’s retirement, ” I spoke to Polly just a couple of days ago and he was very upbeat about playing (in the third Test).” For those who look beyond the famous names, Pollock is the most underrated cricketer in history. He was a master of control, and his impact is evident in every win he helped create.

6. Misbah-ul-Haq

• Full Name: Misbah-ul-Haq Khan Niazi
• Date of Birth: May 28, 1974
• Place of Birth: Mianwali, Punjab
• Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm legbreak
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

Former Pakistani captain Misbah is not like flamboyant names like Afridi. He was an underrated savior of Pakistan cricket during his era. With his captaincy, Pakistan won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2012 Asia Cup.

Once Kamran Abbasi said that, “Love him or loathe him, whether he is hero to you or villain, it was Misbah-ul-Haq, the next great leader after Kardar and Imran, who stood between Pakistan cricket and the end.”

Misbah had a Test average of 46.62, which is quite an elite category. He often performed better than his more flashy teammates in high-pressure situations, as seen in his 161* against India in 2007.

It made him the opposite of the Pakistan “boom or bust” stereotype. He proved his dominance in all three formats. Forgot the 2007 T20I last ball scoop, but not the efforts. Beyond that, his 2013 Champions Trophy 96* was a masterclass.

With a fractured team in 2016, he became the number one Test cricketer. He was a calm thinker who made chess players look impulsive.

So why is he the most underrated cricketer ever?

He chose function over unnecessary limelight. In an age that loves highlights, we watched the pure cricketing maestro and missed the architect who built the success.

5. VVS Laxman

• Full Name: Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman
• Date of Birth: November 01, 1974
• Place of Birth: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
• Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm offbreak
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

Indian golden generation player VVS Laxman was often overshadowed by his teammates, the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar and the wall, Rahul Dravid. But with his reliable middle-order batting, he saves many matches. Against Australia, he scored his career best of 281 runs at Eden Gardens. It helped India win in 2001 from a follow-on situation.

Once, Captain Ganguly said, “If he had not scored 281, we would have lost the game.” He has 17 Test centuries and is known as India’s top player. However, he did not captain the team for long. He also did not receive enough spotlight that he deserved.

In victory matches, his average rose to 52.87. He often teamed up with lower-order batters to guide teams. We know Dravid and Tendulkar had bigger brands, but Laxman had more match-saving moments.

That’s why he is on our list of the most underrated cricketers ever. So next time you praise the usual legends, think of the man who made hopeless causes famous. He did this without seeking attention.

4. Michael Hussey

• Full Name: Michael Edward Killeen Hussey
• Date of Birth: May 27, 1975
• Place of Birth: Mt Lawley, Perth, Western Australia
• Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 
• Bowling: Right-arm medium
• Batting: Left-Handed Bat

You probably forgot that Michael Hussey averaged higher than Ricky Ponting in ODIs. That’s exactly why he’s the most underrated cricketer in cricket history. While Ponting grabbed headlines, Hussey quietly averaged 48.15 across 185 ODIs, better than his legendary captain’s 42.03.

The numbers demonstrate his significant impact. Hussey scored at least fifty in over 24 percent of his ODI innings. Not only in ODIs, his 2009 Ashes hundred at The Oval came when Australia desperately needed someone to step up. Mr. Cricket delivered again in the 2010 World Twenty20 semifinal, smashing sixty off 24 balls against Pakistan. It shows his dominance across three formats.

Former coach John Buchanan said, “He has generally been able to put them away in the past, but he has been missing out,” Buchanan told the Herald Sun. “Looking at Mike, he is doing all the right things. He is certainly thinking the right way, and his mental frame of mind is good.”

Hussey played with stars like Ponting, Gilchrist, and Hayden on the Australian team. That’s why he doesn’t receive proper recognition. Among underrated cricketers, nobody hides in plain sight quite like Mr. Cricket.

3. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

• Full Name: Shivnarine Chanderpaul
• Date of Birth: August 16, 1974
• Place of Birth: Unity Village, East Coast, Demerara, Guyana
• Height: 1.77 m (5 ft 8 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm legbreak
• Batting: Left-Handed Bat

Never forgot about Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who averaged 51.37 in Test cricket while his teammates struggled to reach 45, even Chris Gayle. But unfortunately, his contribution was not praised. That’s what makes him the most underrated cricketer in cricket history.

The numbers tell a story that nobody is interested in. Chanderpaul scored 11,867 Test runs, when West Indies won just 34% of their matches during his career.

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar played for an Indian team that won 42% of its games. Yet we never talk about them together.

Chanderpaul remained not out in 49 of his 280 Test innings, carrying his bat through collapses that would break most players. As a debutant captain, Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s 203 not out against South Africa in 2005 marked a significant achievement.

Even in ODIs, Chanderpaul played 268 ODI matches during his career. He scored 8,778 runs in those games. His career included 11 centuries and 59 fifties. The 150 runs remained his highest ODI score against South Africa.

Often, Brian Lara overshadowed him completely. When Lara wasn’t playing, Chanderpaul averaged 54.2. The man, most of the time, held up one end while wickets fell around him. It makes him more dependable for the West Indies, especially in pressure situations.

2. Ross Taylor

• Full Name: Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor
• Date of Birth: March 08, 1984
• Place of Birth: Lower Hutt, Wellington
• Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm off-break
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

Ross Taylor was part of New Zealand’s golden era. In his late career, the Black Caps won their first ICC trophy, the ICC World Test Championship, in 2021. That time, Rosco was the third-highest scorer for the Black Caps. But often he was in the shadow of the shadows of Williamson and Brandon McCullum.  

Actually, Taylor delivered when it mattered most. In the 2011 World Cup, that spine-tingling finish against Pakistan was Rosco’s show. He smashed 26 runs off Shoaib Akhtar’s final ODI over. That’s clutch performance at its finest.

His Test average is 44.66, and his ODI average is 47.55. These numbers show his elite-level stats. But numbers alone don’t tell the entire story.

][8 story. Ross Taylor’s best Test performance was his amazing 290 against Australia at the WACA in 2015. This record-breaking innings showed his skill and determination against a strong bowling attack.

He also scored an important 47* in the ICC World Test Championship final, helping his team win. Still, he never gained the same online fame as his teammates. It’s time we give this Kiwi maestro the spotlight he’s long deserved.

1. Mohammad Yosuf

• Full Name: Mohammad Yousuf
• Date of Birth: August 27, 1974
• Place of Birth: Lahore, Punjab
• Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 
• Bowling: Right arm off-break
• Batting: Right-Handed Bat

Now, you are at the final stop. If cricket had a Hall of Fame for artists, Mohammad Yousuf would be its Picasso. Yet, somehow, he remains one of the most underrated cricketers in history.

In 2006, Yousuf scored 1,788 runs with nine centuries, breaking Sir Viv Richards’ 30-year-old record. He averaged nearly 100 runs per Test that year. Still, we barely remember his name when we discuss batting greats.

Yousuf scored over 9,700 ODI runs at an average above 40 and over 7,500 Test runs at an average above 50, ranking second-highest among all Pakistani batters.

Once Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s late coach, said Yousuf was like a Ferrari when he batted and a truck when he didn’t. He is not very good in the field. Today, we saw the Ferrari roar.

We have a player who broke records that are over a hundred years old. Yet, he is often ignored in talks about the greatest batsmen. That’s what makes Mohammad Yousuf the most underrated cricketer in cricket ever. Sometimes, the most underrated cricketers are hiding in plain sight, and Yousuf proves that point perfectly.

Last Words

The stories of these 22 most underrated cricketers remind us that greatness is not always loud. Mohammad Yousuf, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ross Taylor, and VVS Laxman stood tall in moments of pressure, shaping matches with calm determination.

Players like Rangana Herath, Michael Hussey, and Shaun Pollock became the backbone of their sides, often without headlines or applause. Each name on this list carried teams forward while others claimed the spotlight.

Their legacy shows that cricket is not just about shining in the spotlight;  it’s not a simple tug of war between fame and obscurity. It is also about being strong in tough times, about the team’s formations shifting to support an anchor player, much like a strategic throwball that changes the game’s momentum.

Though they were underrated in their time, their value was undeniable. True legends are not always celebrated, but the game itself would be incomplete without them.

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Krishanu

My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.

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