Cricket has changed a lot since its inception. It’s probably the only sport which has seen these many changes over time. Test Cricket was the first and original format of the game, played over five days.

Then came the One Day format. Days of cricket was reduced to 60 overs per side and then to 50 overs, to be played on a single day. As if that was not enough, the new millennium saw the birth of a new format, the T20s. It changed how the game was played forever.

As for batsmen, there are some who excel in one format or two, like the Test specialists or the power hitters in the shorter format. Then there are some who make their presence felt and are equally good in all three formats.

Here’s a list of 5 best batsmen across formats

5. Quinton de Kock

When Quinton de Kock hit three consecutive centuries against India in December 2013, it was an announcement of the arrival of a modern-day great wicketkeeper-batsman.

The left-handed batsman has since then evolved into a brutal force in all the three formats of the game. Tests – 2934 runs in 80 innings with 5 centuries may not sound great but the way he has batted in the last few years is simply astounding. In ODIs, he is at the very top of his abilities, along with being the joint fourth quickest to 5000 runs, with 15 hundreds in his kitty.

The newly appointed South Africa cricket captain, De Kock, may be of short stature but hits the ball as hard as anyone on the cricket field. He’s a indispensable part of the T20I squad and his records back this claim. To accompany his tremendous batting skills, Quinton de Kock is also a mighty fine wicketkeeper.

4. Babar Azam

It’s after a very long time that Pakistan can claim that one of their batsmen is in the list of the best batsmen in the world across formats. Such is the finesse of Babar Azam, just at the age of 25.

The One Day format was never a question for Babar Azam. 72 innings, 3359 runs at an average of 54.18 and 11 centuries. That doesn’t need any sugar coating. It’s as good as it gets. He has adopted the T20 format pretty good and boasts of an average of 50 plus, along with the number one rank in the ICC T20I rankings.

The Test format was what he was lacking runs in. That changed soon when he hit 5 Test centuries in less than 14 months, from November 2018 to February 2020. As of now, he is the only batsman to be ranked in the top 5 in all three formats.

3. Kane Williamson

If class was to be defined by a batsman, it has to be Kane Williamson. The captain of the New Zealand cricket team, Kane Williamson, without any iota of doubt, is one of the best batsmen in all the three formats of the game.

In a world of modern cricket and power game, he is one of very few batsmen who plays the ball very late and that’s what makes him very special. In a normal circumstance, 80 Tests, 140 ODIs, 60 T20Is, aren’t that much of a sample size to determine a batsman’s greatness, but hey, he’s Kane Williamson.

Stats show that he is behind Ross Taylor and Stephen Fleming in terms of runs scored but ask any Kiwi, Kane is already a hero and their finest, even above Martin Crowe. What he’s achieved in the few years has been monumental.

2. Steve Smith

Often titled as the next ‘Sir Donald Bradman’, Steve Peter Devereux Smith has faced a lot of ups and downs in his career, and yet he makes the cut in the list of top 5 best batsmen in all three formats.

Coming on to the big stage as a leg spinner and then to become the best Test batsman of the modern era, Steve Smith has seen it all. With his quirky stance and unorthodox batting technique, he has conquered bowlers all around the world.

And it’s not just the longest format of the game he specializes in. His One Day record is fine too. Although he has not played as many games as his contemporaries, Smith is a big match player. His four 50+ scores in knockout matches of the ICC World Cups is a testament to this. After his return from the Sandpaper ban, he is in fine-tune in the T20 format as well and will be a key component of the Australian dream of winning a T20 World Cup at home later in 2020.

1. Virat Kohli

Tests – 145 innings, 7240 runs, 27 centuries, 7 double centuries. ODIs – 239 innings, 11867 runs, 43 centuries. T20Is – 76 innings, 2794 runs, 24 half centuries. 50 plus average in Tests and T20Is and around 60 in the One Day format. Did you really think there would be another name on the top of this list?

The Indian captain and batting powerhouse, Virat Kohli, is unarguably the best batsman across formats. There is just no two ways about it. His consistency is what defines him, not to forget his aggression on the field.

Words fall short when one starts describing his ability of scoring runs with ease. The orthodox technique he plays with and the movement of his wrists have made the entire cricket community go wow. The format changes, but the attitude of his towards cricket doesn’t change a bit. That’s why he is so successful. That’s why he is so revered all around the world, wherever he goes.