In cricket, there are certain batsmen who go to the crease, and the bowler will cower at once once they play their first shot. Such is the nature of the most dangerous batsman in the world-the players who can alter a match in a matter of a few overs. From the raw power of Chris Gayle to the innovative genius of AB de Villiers, cricket has witnessed a few game-changers that rewrote aggressive batting. These legends have not only conquered the statistics, but in a way, they have changed the approach and manner through which the game is played. Quick Stats: Top 10 Most Dangerous Batsmen Player Name Country International Runs Centuries/Fifties Known For Chris Gayle West Indies 19,593 42/105 Power Hitting AB de Villiers South Africa 20,014 47/109 360° Batting Virender Sehwag India 17,253 38/72 Fearless Approach Vivian Richards West Indies 15,261 35/90 Intimidation Sanath Jayasuriya Sri Lanka 21,032 42/103 Aggressive Opening Adam Gilchrist Australia 15,461 33/81 Revolutionary Keeper-Batsman MS Dhoni India 17,266 16/108 Finishing Ability Brendon McCullum New Zealand 14,676 19/76 Explosive Starts David Warner Australia 18,995 49/98 All-Format Dominance Shahid Afridi Pakistan 11,196 11/51 Quick Scoring Top 10 Most Dangerous Batsmen in Cricket History Chris Gayle Image Source : Getty Images Arguably the most dangerous batsman in the world to have ever existed during his playing days, Chris Gayle revolutionized the art of power hitting in cricket. Standing at 6'2", this Jamaican wrecking ball got himself the nickname "Universe Boss" for his unbeaten ability to clear any boundary with an unapologetic smile. His batting mantra? Fewer moves and maximum impact, dead simple-yet-deadly. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 103 7,214 333 42.18 60.26 15/37 ODIs 301 10,480 215 37.83 87.19 25/54 T20Is 79 1,899 117 27.92 137.51 2/14 The standout innings from Gayle came in the IPL, where his unbeaten 175 off 66 deliveries for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors remains the highest individual T20 score. The mammoth knock included a then record 17 sixes and remains the fastest hundred ever scored in T20 cricket. He was always good at hitting sixes but had transformed into the most feared batsman in the globe across formats due to his everpresent ability to hit sixes at will. What was special about Gayle was his unique blend of putting together Test match patience with T20 aggression. His 333 against Sri Lanka proved he was a long-innings player, and the 100-ball double century against Zimbabwe during the 2015 World Cup showed he had all the skills for ODI cricket. Often, bowlers would confess that their old game plan was irrelevant when Gayle was going strongly. AB de Villiers Image Source : Getty Images AB de Villiers revolutionized modern batting with innovative strokeplay and supernatural ability to hit the ball to any part of the ground. In this regard, the most dangerous batsman in the world in pressure situations, de Villiers was sometimes called "Mr 360°" because he could score all around the wicket with equal ease. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 114 8,765 278* 50.66 54.51 22/46 ODIs 228 9,577 176 53.50 101.09 25/53 T20Is 78 1,672 79* 26.12 135.16 0/10 A 31-ball century against the West Indies is one of the most bizarre records in cricket and explains why he was rated among the most dangerous batsmen in world cricket. De Villiers was special because he could mix classical cricket shots with innovative strokes that seemed to defy physics. His well-known "reverse-sweep six" off Dale Steyn in the IPL became one of the symbols of his creative genius. De Villiers proved himself to be the most chameleon-like of batsmen: he could anchor a Test innings, accelerate an ODI, or dominate a T20. Some of his batting with Virat Kohli at RCB would rank among the greatest displays of hitting in IPL history. Australian former captain Michael Clarke once said, "AB is the only batsman who makes the bowlers feel like they're bowling in a video game." Also Read | Top 5 Highest Runs Partnerships in Test | The Art of Partnership Virender Sehwag Image Source : Getty Images Virender Sehwag transformed Test cricket with his fearless approach, and it was because of this that he earned his place among the most dangerous batsman in the world by scoring at T20 pace in Test matches. His philosophy of "see ball, hit ball" revolutionized opening batting in Test cricket. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 104 8,586 319 49.34 82.23 23/32 ODIs 251 8,273 219 35.05 104.33 15/38 T20Is 19 394 68 21.88 145.38 0/2 Amongst his numerous highlights, possibly the most remarkable thing was that he scored two triple centuries in Test cricket, especially the legendary 309 against Pakistan at Multan, which he finished off with a six. His batting style was unprecedented - it would hit sixes off the first ball of Test matches, thus setting the tone for India's victory. What made Sehwag so hazardous was that he included bare minimum foot movement and had excellent hand-eye coordination. He could keep driving good-length deliveries to the boundary and thus made it tough for bowlers to find a consistent line and length. His 219 innings in ODIs versus West Indies reflected his ability to convert his test match approach into limited-overs cricket. Sir Vivian Richards Image Source : ZAP Cricket Before the term "dangerous batsman" became so popular, Sir Vivian Richards was terrorizing bowlers all around the world. Without even wearing a helmet, Richards dominated the fastest bowlers of his day with an aura of invincibility that has never been replicated. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 121 8,540 291 50.23 86.07 24/45 ODIs 187 6,721 189* 47.00 90.20 11/45 Brutish elegance was the hallmark of Richards's batting. A swag at the crease and the capacity to hook and pull the fast bowlers with disdain gave him the status of the most dangerous batsman in the world in the 70s and 80s. His 189* against England in 1984 remains one of the greatest innings in ODI cricket. What defined him was the psychological grip Richards had over the bowlers. He did not wear a helmet even when he faced Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, the swiftest of his time. He was intimidating. Former England captain Tony Greig once famously said, "Viv Richards could make you feel like you shouldn't be on the same field as him." Sanath Jayasuriya Image Source : Reddit Sanath Jayasuriya revolutionarised the game of opening batsmanship in ODI cricket. During the 1996 World Cup, Jayasuriya became one of the most dangerous batsman in the world. The way that teams approached ODI cricket during the mandatory field restriction overs was never to be the same again. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 110 6,973 340 40.07 65.20 14/31 ODIs 445 13,430 189 32.36 91.20 28/68 T20Is 31 629 88 21.68 129.15 0/4 Jayasuriya's impact on cricket went beyond numbers. He changed the idea of the first 15 overs in ODIs, forcing teams to reassess their bowling approach and field placings. His partnership with Romesh Kaluwitharana during the 1996 World Cup changed ODI cricket from thereon by bringing in concepts like all-out attack right from ball one. His capability of cracking up infield fielder restriction with brutal cuts and pulls made him particularly dangerous against new ball bowlers. Former Australian bowler Shane Warne has reportedly quipped, "Jayasuriya could make you question your choice of profession within the first few overs". Adam Gilchrist Image Source : BCCI Gilchrist redefined the wicketkeeper-batsman's role when he approached the game in an aggressive manner from ball one, making him one of the most dangerous batsman in the world. There was no other player who had seen a Test go off in a single session, and he made history then. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 96 5,570 204* 47.60 81.95 17/26 ODIs 287 9,619 172 35.89 96.94 16/55 T20Is 13 272 48 22.66 141.66 0/0 Gilchrist's innings in the 2007 World Cup final against Sri Lanka will be etched in cricketing folklore because he fashioned a 149 off 104 balls with a squash ball tucked away in his glove. His arrival transformed the new Test cricket role of the wicketkeeper-batsmen and inspired a whole generation of aggressive keeper-batters. He did more than the numbers tell. Gilchrist could change the course of a game in an innings. He made teams think again when he walked in at No. 7. His Test cricket aggressive batting ensured Australia lorded over world cricket for over ten years. MS Dhoni Image Source : Twitter Even though he may not have been classically dangerous at the bat, among the most dangerous batsman in the world in terms of his technique, a Dhoni-like finition under pressure made him the most dangerous batsman in the game.Calculated aggression and an ice-cool temperament in getting out those precious runs were what made him different from the rest. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 90 4,876 224 38.09 59.11 6/33 ODIs 350 10,773 183* 50.57 87.56 10/73 T20Is 98 1,617 56 37.60 126.13 0/2 Dhoni's six that won the match for India in the final of the 2011 World Cup was his moment. It certainly sealed his legacy when the six well and truly cemented his mark. No one forgets the way he had kept a cool head, calculated his run chases with precision, and was just like nobody else. His trademark helicopter shot defined him as someone with an unorthodox batting style. Throughout his career, Dhoni learned to control the rate at which an innings was taken, as he normally started slowly before unleashing his powerful hitting. At different times, that game reading and staying icy calm meant he was one of the best finishers in cricket. Brendon McCullum Image Source : Getty Images He was arguably the most dangerous batsman in the world, and his style took the attack right at the bowlers from the first ball. It changed the way teams approached Test cricket. Besides being aggressive, a very fearless leader, McCullum was. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 101 6,453 302 38.64 64.60 12/31 ODIs 260 6,083 166 30.41 96.37 5/32 T20Is 71 2,140 123 35.66 136.21 2/13 His greatest achievement remained his tons, scored off only 54 balls against Australia in his final Test, making it the fastest hundred in Test cricket. His aggressive captaincy and batting style transformed New Zealand cricket, keeping them afloat till they won their maiden World Cup final in 2015. His batting style was fearless, with no regard for the match situation or the format of the game. This unpredictability was what made the batsman dangerous as he threatened to score all around the field with his batting skills and also take on the fast bowlers in a match. McCullum was deadly in the powerplay overs. Also Read | Top 10 Iconic Spinners in Cricket’s Glorious History: Wizards of Spin David Warner Image Source : Getty Images David Warner is one of the most dangerous batsman in the world today. Aggressive style and consistency in all formats are reasons for that. Warner transformed himself from a T20 specialist to a successful Test opening batsman. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 112 8,786 335* 44.59 70.19 26/37 ODIs 161 6,932 179 45.30 97.26 22/33 T20Is 110 3277 100* 33.43 142.47 1/28 Warner's great feat was scoring a century before lunch on the first day of a Test. Only a few have achieved this feat in the history of cricket. He differs from all other modern-day batsmen with his feature of switching between formats while continuing aggressively to play the game. With an aggressive left-handed batting style and his skills regarding the knowledge of field placements, he is dangerous in the period of powerplay overs. Former England captain Michael Vaughan once described him as "the most destructive opening batsman of his generation. Shahid Afridi Image Source : Getty Images Known for his explosive batting, Afridi was one of the most dangerous batsman in the world during his prime. His ability to hit sixes from the first ball made him unpredictable and exciting to watch. Format Matches Runs Highest Score Average Strike Rate 100s/50s Tests 27 1,716 156 36.51 86.97 5/8 ODIs 398 8,064 124 23.57 117.00 6/39 T20Is 99 1,416 54* 17.92 150.00 0/4 He declared himself to the world of cricket by scoring the fastest ODI century off only 37 balls, which remained till numerous years from his record-breaking innings. His aggressive batting style, besides being able to clear boundaries on a leash earned him the nickname "Boom Boom". While he remained inconsistent in his batting till the end, the fact that he could change games sometimes with a few crunch hits made him always worth the watch. His approach towards batting has impacted an entire generation of power hitters in Pakistani cricket. Conclusion These cricketing legends have entertained millions besides changing the way the game is played. Their ability to command bowlers and alter the course of a match over a couple of overs makes them the most dangerous batsman in the world . Indeed, styles and approaches have come and gone in batting since then, but the effect that has remained an issue is what led to the emergence of new generations of aggressive batsmen. All of those carried their style into the game, which defined them as the most lethal batsmen in the world back then.