The Master Blaster of India, Sachin Tendulkar, is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers ever. Despite his short stature, he proves that cricket has nothing to do with a player’s height if they use their skills effectively.
Height is often considered an advantage in cricket, but players like Mohammad Irfan, one of the tallest cricketers, and several short-statured cricketers prove this statement wrong. Let’s dive into the world of these beloved short-statured cricketers.
10 . Sachin Tendulkar, 5.5 ft
Sachin Tendulkar stands 10th on the list of top 10 Shortest Cricketers of all Time. Despite his height, he holds numerous awards and records, proving that height is never a barrier if one has the will to achieve greatness.
He is among those players who have set an unbreakable record for the upcoming players, Before retiring, Sachin set one such record of 100 international centuries.
9. Sunil Gavaskar, 5.5 ft
Sunil Gavaskar, another legendary cricketer, was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1980 after scoring 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Known for his strong techniques and unerring concentration, he could face fast bowlers without a helmet. Gavaskar earned the title of “Little Master” for his achievements.
8. Tatenda Taibu, Zimbabwe: 5.41 ft
Tatenda Taibu is one of the greatest Zimbabwean players, debuting in international cricket at 18 and becoming the youngest Test team captain at 21. He ended his career as the fourth-highest run scorer and the second-most successful wicketkeeper for Zimbabwe.
7. Kedar Jadhav, India, 5.41 ft
Kedar Jadhav, a Maharashtrian cricketer, made his debut in 2014 and has since been a regular feature in ODIs. Known for his multi-dimensional skills, he was selected for the World Cup 2019. Jadhav has scored over 1100 runs at an average of 43 and taken 27 wickets in 59 ODIs.
6. Gundappa Vishwanath, India, 5.3 ft
Nicknamed “Vishy,” Gundappa Vishwanath brought elegance to the Indian cricket team. Admired by Sunil Gavaskar, Vishwanath scored over 6000 runs in 90 Test matches at an average of 42. He served as an ICC match referee from 1999 to 2004.
5. Mominul Haque, Bangladesh, 5.3 ft
Mominul Haque is the only Bangladeshi cricketer to hit 11 consecutive half-centuries in Test matches. With a decent average of 44 in 33 matches, Mominul is considered a red-ball specialist. He has proven to be a valuable asset for the Bangladesh cricket team.
4. Parthiv Patel, India, 5.25 ft
Parthiv Patel became the youngest wicketkeeper from India, debuting at 17. He led Gujarat to their first Ranji title and played 25 Test matches and 38 ODIs for India. Despite his talent, he struggled to maintain his position due to the presence of MS Dhoni.
3. Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh, 5.25 ft
Former captain Mushfiqur Rahim debuted at 16 and is considered Bangladesh’s best batsman. He holds the record for the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi batsman in Tests (219 runs). Rahim has played 387 matches across all formats, scoring 12,548 runs at an average of 34.9.
2. Walter Cornford, England, 5 ft
Walter Cornford, nicknamed “Tich” for his height of 5 ft, played only 4 international matches but maintained a good record in domestic cricket with 6500 runs in 496 matches. He began his career in 1921 and served during World War II.
1. Kruger Van Wyk, New Zealand, 4.75 ft
Kruger van Wyk, the shortest cricketer in history, played for New Zealand. Despite being born in South Africa, he chose to play for New Zealand. Van Wyk scored 341 runs in 9 international matches and led the Canterbury Wizards to the championship title in 2008.
FAQs
1. Who is the shortest cricketer in history?
- Kruger van Wyk from New Zealand, with a height of 4.75 ft, is the shortest cricketer in history.
2. Who is the shortest cricketer in IPL?
- Parthiv Patel is the shortest Indian cricketer to play in the IPL, with a height of 5’4″.
3. Who is the shortest fast bowler in India?
- Sunil Gavaskar, with a height of 5.5 ft, is often mistakenly referred to as the shortest fast bowler, but he was primarily a batsman and occasionally bowled medium pace.
