Who Is the Fittest Cricketer in the World? A Look at Top Contenders

Becoming a domestic or international cricket player requires consistent hard work on not just improving cricketing skills, but also on training and diet. You cannot be batting, bowling, fielding, or wicketkeeping for hours without being fit. 

A cricketer needs strength to hit the ball, stamina to keep going through a match, and flexibility to move quickly on the field. Good fitness also helps prevent injuries, or recover faster from injuries. Every cricketer at the top level is fit, but some stand out for being fitter than the others. Check out a list of the top 10 fittest cricketers in the world, who are still active in cricket. 

Virat Kohli 

Virat Kohli is unanimously regarded as the fittest cricketer in the world. His dedication to maintaining a strict diet and following an intense workout routine has kept him in top shape, even at 35. Kohli's exceptional fitness can be seen in his quick singles and sharp running between the wickets. Apart from spending hours in the gym, he is also a firm believer in yoga, practicing it regularly, and also chooses to consume healthy food over tasty and tempting food. Kohli's transformation from a less fit youngster to one of the world’s fittest athletes is well known. 

In a 2021 interview with Sky Sports, Kohli rolled back a few years to reflect on his turning point: “I told myself, ‘If you want to play cricket at the highest level, this is not the way you can manage.' From the next day onwards, I changed everything about my diet and the way I trained. From then on, it became an obsession.”

Mitchell Starc

Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, known for his fast and deadly deliveries, remains impressively fit at 34. Though he has faced injury challenges, his fitness has always helped him make strong comebacks. In the IPL 2024 final, Starc was one of the key players for Kolkata Knight Riders, taking three important wickets and helping the team secure their third title.

As reported by the Times of India, Starc maintains his fitness through disciplined training and a strict diet. His meals include the right balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, with daily staples like meat, eggs, sweet potato, avocado, and almond milk.

Ravindra Jadeja 

Another exceptionally fit Indian cricketer is Ravindra Jadeja, and his energy on the field speaks for itself. Whether he's bowling, batting, or fielding, Jadeja performs each role with great athleticism. His teammate, Ravichandran Ashwin, once spoke highly of Jadeja's fitness in an interview. 

"Even if I train twice a day and then have a cheat meal, it will show on weighing scale by 800 gm. Certain people are blessed in a certain way and I love to take my comparison with that of Ravindra Jadeja. He is a blessed cricketer, who is completely physically fit. The harder I train, the more rudimentary I become to stay even close to where Jadeja is. Whereas Jadeja is a natural cricketer, natural bowler, natural batsman. So, he just needs to tick all the boxes during a game," Ashwin told Sanjay Manjrekar in a video. 

Faf du Plessis 

At 40, Faf du Plessis continues to boast fitness levels that many younger players would struggle to match. His sharp running between the wickets and stunning diving catches highlights his athleticism even at this age. Last year, he was the second-highest run-scorer in the IPL, scoring 730 runs in 14 innings.

Du Plessis maintains a sculpted physique through consistent gym workouts and a disciplined diet. As reported by the Times of India, his diet is carefully managed. For breakfast, he typically has oatmeal with milk and honey, while lunch and dinner often feature salmon or chicken. Oats with milk and honey remain a daily staple in his meals.

Faf du Plessis of South Africa//Getty Images

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell is one of the fittest cricketers, taking his workouts very seriously and staying at the top of his fitness game.

In November 2023, he set a new World Cup record for the fastest double century. But what made this knock more special was that Maxwell achieved it while battling severe cramps, barely being able to walk at times. Despite limping between the wickets, Maxwell went on to score an unbeaten 201 off 128 balls, hitting 21 fours and 10 sixes. His incredible knock helped Australia recover from a dire position of 91-7, snatching victory from Afghanistan. Such a remarkable knock, especially under such physical strain, would not have been possible without Maxwell's consistent focus on fitness over the years.

Jos Buttler 

Jos Buttler is known for his exceptional fitness, which enables him to handle the demanding dual role of wicketkeeping and batting. His fitness plays a key part in his success as one of the finest white-ball cricketers, thriving in formats where powerful hitting and quick scoring are crucial.

In an interview with GQ India, Buttler shared insights into his fitness routine, discussing the specific exercises he follows to maintain his high levels of athleticism. 

"For myself, as a batsman and wicketkeeper, a lot of stuff is focused around jumping and explosive activities: squats, and then some jumps, both laterally and vertically. 

With batting, there's a lot of rotational stuff involved – cricket's quite a rotational game, thinking specifically about The Hundred and power hitting – so there are a lot of cable rotations, med ball throws, those kinds of things where you're trying to develop that speed and power to be able to hit the ball as far as you can."

Ben Stokes 

Ben Stokes, another England cricketer, is known for being one of the fittest players in the world. His fitness shows in how he performs on the field. He can bowl at speeds over 135 km/h, take stunning acrobatic catches that change the game, and hit sixes with ease.

"I do a lot of shoulder mobility work, stretching them to help them stay strong. I'll also do quick core circuits because of my back, and some hamstring circuits which help secure my knee. My knee and back have been the two of the worst injuries of my career so far," Stokes told Redbull in an interview. 

MS Dhoni

At 43 years old, Dhoni still displays the same athleticism as his younger teammates. Even though he has retired from international cricket, he continues to run quickly between the wickets, hit powerful sixes, and perform brilliantly behind the stumps in the IPL. During his international career, Dhoni was known as one of the fastest runners between the wickets.

After Chennai Super Kings won the 2018 IPL, Dwayne Bravo challenged Dhoni to a race between the wickets. Both had to complete three runs three runs with their bats in hand, and Dhoni won by just a fraction of a second.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah's ability to make strong comebacks from injury is largely due to his excellent fitness. For a fast bowler, staying fit is crucial. In a recent media interaction, when Bumrah was asked to name the fittest cricketer, he confidently picked himself.

"I know the answer you are searching for, but I would like to say my name, because I am a fast bowler. I have been playing for while…and being a fast bowler and playing in this country in the beat takes a lot of requirements. So, I will always promote a fast bowler,” Bumrah said.