Discover essential facts about the ‘Godfather of Cricket: All the Key Facts You Should Know—learn about his legendary career, achievements, and impact on the sport.
Sachin Tendulkar is called the “God of Cricket,” and Virat Kohli is known as the “King of Cricket.” But the “Godfather of Cricket” title has been linked to various people throughout cricket’s history.
Learn about the people who might be called the “Godfather of Cricket.”
5. Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer, an Australian media tycoon, is often called the Godfather of Cricket. In the late 1970s, he transformed cricket by founding World Series Cricket. This brought big changes like higher player salaries, bidding wars, and greater global popularity for the game. Packer introduced day-night matches, colored jerseys, and limited-overs cricket, attracting younger fans. He also helped save cricket from financial troubles. These efforts earned him the title of the Godfather of Cricket.
4. William Gilbert Grace
William Gilbert Grace, a former English cricketer, is often called the “Godfather of Cricket.” He is considered one of England’s greatest players and played a big role in shaping the sport. Over his amazing career from 1865 to 1908, Grace scored more than 54,000 first-class runs in 44 seasons. He captained teams like England, Gloucestershire, the Gentlemen, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and others. Grace was famous for his technical skills and huge influence, leaving a legacy that still inspires cricket today.
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3. Don Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, a former Australian cricketer, is often called the greatest batter ever and even the “Godfather of Cricket.” In his 20-year career, he scored 6,996 runs in 52 Test matches with an amazing average of 99.94. This is seen as one of the best achievements in sports history. His incredible cricket career made him a famous figure in Australia and the country’s first big celebrity.
2. Sunil Gavaskar
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was called the “Godfather of Indian Cricket” by West Indies legend Viv Richards. Gavaskar made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1971 and was known for his excellent technique against fast bowlers. He performed brilliantly against the strong West Indies fast bowling attack, scoring at an average of 65.45. Gavaskar was the first batter to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He finished his amazing career with 10,122 runs in 125 Tests, earning recognition as one of the greatest opening batters ever.
1. MS Dhoni
In modern cricket, former India captain MS Dhoni is called the ‘Godfather of Team India.’ After legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and Anil Kumble retired, Dhoni led the Indian cricket team to great success. Under his leadership, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup. In 2011, they ended a 28-year wait to win the ICC ODI World Cup again. In 2013, India also won the Champions Trophy in England.
Dhoni stepped down as Test captain at the right time, passing the role to Virat Kohli. In limited-overs cricket, he gave up the ODI and T20 captaincy to ensure a smooth transition. Even after stepping down, Dhoni helped Kohli grow as a leader. After retiring, Dhoni became India’s mentor for the 2021 T20 World Cup.
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