Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most Man of the Series awards in ODI cricket, with 15 awards from 108 series. Virat Kohli is second with 12, followed by Sanath Jayasuriya with 11. These awards recognise players who make the strongest overall contribution throughout a series.
The list includes 13 players across the top six ranking positions because eight cricketers share sixth place with seven awards each. Looking at the number of series played alongside the award totals also reveals how frequently these players turned consistent performances into series honours.
What Is a Man of the Series Award in ODI Cricket?
The Man of the Series award is given to the player judged to have made the most valuable overall contribution during a cricket series. The decision considers performances across the matches rather than just one outstanding innings or bowling spell.
A batter can earn the award through consistent run scoring, while a bowler may win it by taking important wickets and controlling the scoring rate. All rounders can also stand out through their contributions with both bat and ball.
Most Man of the Series Awards in ODI Cricket: Complete List
Sachin Tendulkar leads the list with 15 awards, while Virat Kohli and Sanath Jayasuriya occupy the next two positions. Eight players are tied on seven awards, so they all share sixth place rather than receiving separate ranks.
| Rank | Player | Team | Awards | ODI Series Played | ODI Career |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 15 | 108 | 1989–2012 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 12 | 76 | 2008–present |
| 3 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 11 | 111 | 1989–2011 |
| 4 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 9 | 60 | 1996–2008 |
| 5 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 8 | 71 | 1999–2019 |
| 6 | Vivian Richards | West Indies | 7 | 40 | 1975–1991 |
| 6 | Hashim Amla | South Africa | 7 | 49 | 2008–2019 |
| 6 | Yuvraj Singh | India | 7 | 71 | 2000–2017 |
| 6 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 7 | 73 | 2006–2023 |
| 6 | Sourav Ganguly | India | 7 | 75 | 1992–2007 |
| 6 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 7 | 77 | 1995–2012 |
| 6 | MS Dhoni | India | 7 | 80 | 2004–2019 |
| 6 | Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 7 | 46 | 2013–2025 |
1. Sachin Tendulkar: 15 Awards
Sachin Tendulkar tops the all time list with 15 Man of the Series awards from 108 ODI series. He played 463 ODIs for India between 1989 and 2012, scoring 18,426 runs, including 49 centuries and 96 half centuries.
His ability to perform against different bowling attacks made him a regular match winner. Tendulkar delivered important innings in bilateral series and major tournaments, maintaining remarkable consistency throughout his international career.
2. Virat Kohli: 12 Awards
Virat Kohli has won 12 Man of the Series awards in ODI cricket, placing him second behind Tendulkar. He has represented India in ODIs since 2008 and is known for his consistency, particularly while chasing targets.
Kohli combines strong technique, fitness and an excellent understanding of match situations. His performances across bilateral series and international tournaments have made him one of India’s most dependable ODI batters.
3. Sanath Jayasuriya: 11 Awards
Sanath Jayasuriya won 11 Man of the Series awards during his ODI career from 1989 to 2011. He played 445 ODIs for Sri Lanka, scored 13,430 runs and took 323 wickets with his left arm spin.
Jayasuriya changed the way teams approached the opening overs of an ODI innings. His attacking batting gave Sri Lanka quick starts, while his bowling provided important breakthroughs. His contribution in both departments made him one of the most influential all rounders of his generation.
4. Shaun Pollock: 9 Awards
Shaun Pollock won nine Man of the Series awards for South Africa. He played 303 ODIs between 1996 and 2008, taking 393 wickets and scoring 3,519 runs. His accuracy and ability to maintain pressure made him one of the leading bowlers of his era.
Pollock also contributed useful runs in the lower order. He regularly helped South Africa control the middle overs and defend competitive totals, making him valuable in different match situations.
5. Chris Gayle: 8 Awards
Chris Gayle collected eight Man of the Series awards during his ODI career from 1999 to 2019. He played 301 matches for the West Indies and scored 10,480 runs, including 25 centuries.
Gayle was known for his powerful hitting and ability to change a match within a few overs. He also contributed with his off spin, taking 167 ODI wickets. His performances with both bat and ball helped him earn recognition across several series.
Eight Players Tied on Seven Man of the Series Awards
Eight players share sixth place with seven ODI Man of the Series awards each. Their achievements come from different eras and playing roles, but every player has earned the same number of series honours.
6. Vivian Richards: 7 Awards
Vivian Richards won seven Man of the Series awards during his ODI career from 1975 to 1991. He played 187 ODIs for the West Indies and scored 6,721 runs, establishing himself as one of the most dominant batters of his generation.
Richards played a major role in West Indies’ dominance during the early years of ODI cricket. He combined aggressive stroke play with exceptional confidence and regularly put opposition bowlers under pressure. He also has the best award frequency among the five leading examples compared in this article, winning one award for approximately every 5.7 series.
7. Hashim Amla: 7 Awards
Hashim Amla earned seven Man of the Series awards for South Africa. He played 181 ODIs between 2008 and 2019, scored 8,113 runs and registered 27 centuries.
Amla combined elegant stroke play with remarkable consistency. He was particularly effective at building innings and converting starts into big scores. His ability to perform in different conditions made him one of South Africa’s most reliable batters.
8. Yuvraj Singh: 7 Awards
Yuvraj Singh won seven Man of the Series awards in ODIs for India. He played 304 matches between 2000 and 2017, scoring 8,701 runs and taking 111 wickets with his left arm spin.
Yuvraj produced several memorable performances in major tournaments. His contributions with both bat and ball during India’s 2011 World Cup campaign remain among the highlights of his international career.
9. Shakib Al Hasan: 7 Awards
Shakib Al Hasan has seven Man of the Series awards in ODI cricket. He represented Bangladesh in the format from 2006 to 2023 and became one of the most successful all rounders in international cricket.
His value comes from his ability to influence matches in two departments. Shakib can build an innings, accelerate when required and take important wickets with his left arm spin. His consistency helped Bangladesh compete against stronger teams.
10. Sourav Ganguly: 7 Awards
Sourav Ganguly won seven Man of the Series awards during his ODI career from 1992 to 2007. He played 311 matches for India and scored 11,363 runs, including 22 centuries.
Ganguly was one of India’s leading opening batters and played an important role in building a competitive team during his captaincy. His strong off side stroke play and performances in major tournaments made him a key figure in Indian cricket.
11. Ricky Ponting: 7 Awards
Ricky Ponting won seven ODI Man of the Series awards during his career from 1995 to 2012. He played 375 ODIs for Australia and scored 13,704 runs, making him one of the most successful batters in the format.
Ponting combined aggressive batting with strong leadership. He played an important role in Australia’s success across major tournaments and bilateral competitions, regularly contributing with the bat in high pressure matches.
12. MS Dhoni: 7 Awards
MS Dhoni won seven Man of the Series awards during his ODI career from 2004 to 2019. He played 350 ODIs for India and scored 10,773 runs, becoming one of the most successful wicketkeeper batters in the format.
Dhoni was known for his finishing ability, calm decision making and leadership. His contributions behind the stumps added further value to the team, while his performances as captain helped India achieve major international success.
13. Quinton de Kock: 7 Awards
Quinton de Kock has won seven ODI Man of the Series awards during his international career from 2013 to 2025. He played 161 ODIs for South Africa and became one of the leading wicketkeeper batters of his generation.
De Kock was particularly effective as an opening batter. His aggressive approach, ability to score big hundreds and contributions behind the stumps made him an important player for South Africa across different ODI series.
Which Country Has the Most Players on the List?
India has the strongest representation among the players in this list, with five cricketers: Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni. Their combined achievements highlight India’s strong record in ODI cricket across different generations.
South Africa has three representatives: Shaun Pollock, Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock. The West Indies have Chris Gayle and Vivian Richards, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Australia are represented by Sanath Jayasuriya, Shakib Al Hasan and Ricky Ponting respectively.
Which Player Wins the Award Most Frequently?
The total number of awards shows who has won the most, but comparing awards with the number of series played gives another view of consistency. Vivian Richards has the strongest frequency among the five players compared below, with seven awards from 40 series.
| Player | Awards | Series Played | One Award Every |
| Vivian Richards | 7 | 40 | 5.7 series |
| Shaun Pollock | 9 | 60 | 6.7 series |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 15 | 108 | 7.2 series |
| Quinton de Kock | 7 | 46 | 6.6 series |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 11 | 111 | 10.1 series |
Pollock also has a better award frequency than Tendulkar, despite winning fewer awards overall. Tendulkar’s record of 15 awards is built across a much larger number of series, showing the remarkable longevity of his performances.
Who Could Challenge the Record in the Future?
Virat Kohli is the closest active challenger to Tendulkar’s record, with 12 ODI Man of the Series awards. He needs four more to move ahead of Tendulkar’s total of 15.
Rohit Sharma is another active Indian batter to watch, with six awards from 77 ODI series. Shubman Gill has five awards from just 20 series, giving him a strong award frequency at this stage of his ODI career. Gill’s total is still well below the leading players, but his early record makes him an interesting name for the future.
Why Is the Man of the Series Award Important?
The Man of the Series award recognises contributions across an entire ODI series. It gives credit to players who consistently influence results rather than relying on one exceptional performance.
- Rewards consistency: Players need to contribute across multiple matches.
- Recognises different skills: Batters, bowlers and all rounders can all win the award.
- Highlights match impact: Strong performances at important moments can influence the result of a series.
- Shows long term quality: Multiple awards demonstrate the ability to perform against different opponents and conditions.
Conclusion
Sachin Tendulkar leads the record for the most Man of the Series awards in ODI cricket with 15, followed by Virat Kohli with 12 and Sanath Jayasuriya with 11. Shaun Pollock and Chris Gayle complete the top five with nine and eight awards respectively.
Eight more players share sixth place with seven awards each, including Vivian Richards, Hashim Amla, Yuvraj Singh, Shakib Al Hasan, Sourav Ganguly, Ricky Ponting, MS Dhoni and Quinton de Kock. Comparing awards with series played also highlights the consistency of players such as Richards and Pollock, while Kohli remains the closest active challenger to Tendulkar’s record.
FAQs
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 15 Man of the Series awards in ODI cricket. He won them during his India career between 1989 and 2012.
Virat Kohli has won 12 ODI Man of the Series awards. He is second on the all time list, behind Sachin Tendulkar.
Sanath Jayasuriya is third with 11 awards. The former Sri Lankan all rounder played 445 ODIs between 1989 and 2011.
Sachin Tendulkar leads Indian players with 15 awards. Virat Kohli follows him with 12, while Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni have seven each.
Vivian Richards has the best frequency among the five players compared in this article. He won seven awards in 40 ODI series, which works out to approximately one award every 5.7 series.
