Cricket has evolved significantly since it was played first. As a result, batsmen’s boundary-hitting techniques have changed dramatically. With the passage of time, we have witnessed some of the world best hitter in cricket like Chris Gayle, MS Dhoni, etc. These cricket hitters possess excellent technique and the potential to destroy and clear any fence with ease. They also have the ability to turn a game on its head. We can call them the “strongest cricketers in the world!”

In this article, we have compiled a list of the 10 best hitters in cricket history who, with their destructive power-hitting skills, are considered the world best hitter in cricket.

Top 10 best hitters in cricket history

Here is the list of the top 10 best hitters in world cricket.

Chris Gayle (West Indies)

Chris Gayle, unquestionably the best hitter batsman in the world, tops our list. This giant from Jamaica is a nightmare for many international bowlers because he possesses such intense power in his strokes that even his edges can go for a boundary.

Gayle typically begins his innings slowly, but once he settles down, there is no stopping him, and he scores runs at an astonishing strike rate. His explosive scoring ability in the shorter version of the game elevates him to the position of the world’s no 1 hitter in cricket history.

T20I Records				ODI Records
Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate
75	158	124	137.50	294	1128	331	87.19

Shane Watson (Australia)

Shane Watson is Australia’s best all-rounder and one of the strongest cricketers in the world.

Watson sustained serious injuries early in his career. But he returned to the cricket world with more zeal, becoming a dangerous opener capable of destroying any bowling lineup. Watson’s quick reflexes, big bat swing, and ability to hit the ball hard allowed him to score runs at an immaculate strike rate. His power-hitting made life difficult for bowlers bowling to him, making him one of the best hitters in cricket history.

T20I Records				ODI Records
Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate
56	115	83	145.32	169	570	131	90.44

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Shahid Afridi is one of the most feared cricketers in the world. Popularly known as Boom Boom, Afridi is known for his aggressive intent and dangerous batting display while trying to hit every bowl for a boundary.

Afridi made his debut as a leg-spin bowler who could bat, but after his historic and record-breaking innings of 102 runs off 37 balls, he became one of the best hitters in world cricket. Owing to his dazzling hitting abilities, Afridi makes our list of the world best hitter in cricket history.

T20I Records				ODI Records
Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate
91	103	73	150.00	369	730	351	117.00

Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Brendon McCullum, a wicket-keeper batsman from New Zealand, is another hitter who makes our list of the best hitter in cricket history.

McCullum is a powerful right-hander who can bat anywhere in the order. He is famous not only for hitting a lot of sixes but also for the manner in which he hits them. He used his ‘ramp’ shot fearlessly against the fastest bowlers in cricket, and he plays innings that shift the momentum in his team’s favor by lacing plenty of boundaries.

T20I Records				ODI Records
Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate
70	199	91	136.21	228	577	200	96.37

MS Dhoni (India)

Considered to be one of the best finishers of the game, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is our next pick in the list of world best hitter in cricket.

Dhoni has put in unbelievable efforts in winning the Indian team many times with his aggressive batting. He is recognised among the strongest cricketers in the world and his astonishing strike rate shows that he can hit the ball extremely hard. Dhoni possesses quick hands and superb bat speed and swing, which makes him one of the most dangerous late-order batsmen.

T20I Records				ODI Records
Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate
85	116	52	126.13	297	826	229	87.56

AB de Villiers (South Africa)

The flamboyant South African cricketer AB de Villiers comes next on our list of the best hitter’s in cricket history. Not only does De Villiers has insane six-hitting abilities, he can also adapt to any format or condition and hit the cricket ball hard.

Setting fielders for ABD is a headache for opposing skippers due to his quicker inborn reflexes, scoop-ish sweeps, and wide range of shots. As a result, he is the most dangerous batsman to bowl to, as well as the world’s no. 1 hitter in cricket in terms of 360-degree batting display and destructive power striking.

T20I Records				ODI Records
Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate
75	140	60	135.16	218	840	204	101.09

Andre Russell (West Indies)

This Caribbean cricketer is known for his ruthless hitting and is among the strongest cricketers in the world.

Russell simply enjoys slamming the cricket ball as hard as he can. Russell, primarily a finisher, has single-handedly won games from hopeless positions for his country and franchises. He hits the ball brutally, which is distinguished by a great athleticism, powerful bat swing, and robust contact-point that allows him to clear any fence with ease making him one of the world best hitter in cricket history.

T20I Records				ODI Records
Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate
57	42	62	156.00	47	94	57	130.22

Hardik Pandya (India)

This Indian all-rounder has proven to be a monster hitter of the cricket ball, making it into our list of the best hitters in cricket history. In recent years, Pandya’s six-hitting ability has advanced to the pro level.

With his lean physique, Pandya has excellent hand-eye coordination, high bat lift, and fast bat swing, and with his aggressive intent, he can hit the ball hard and long, making him one of the best hitters in world cricket.

T20I Records				ODI Records
Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate
42	47	41	148.84	46	93	54	116.90

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

With an unbelievable strike rate in all three formats of the game, Glenn Maxwell is one of the most dreaded and world best hitter in cricket history.

Maxwell is a complete entertainment package who, using his pliant wrists, sheer power, and improvisation, produces a wide range of innovative shots to take the lead against the bowlers. Some of his brutal knocks have made him the toughest and best hitter in world cricket.

T20I Records				ODI Records
Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Innings	4s	6s	Strike Rate
79	164	99	153.38	111	325	123	126.06

Jos Butler (England)

Last but not least on our list of the best hitters in world cricket history is the powerful right-handed batsman from England, Jos Butler. He is a modern-day white-ball maverick known for his ferocious ball striking skills.

Butler, a bottom-handed player, breaks the wrists and slightly closes the bat face at the point of contact to generate a fluid swing of the blade and tremendous power. Butler’s strokes are designed to skim the ball hard and flat rather than hit it high and handsomely, making him one of the best hitter batsmen in the world.