Best Fielder in the World : Jonty Rhodes is seen as the best fielder by many, because of his quickness, accuracy, and amazing catches. Besides Sourav Ganguly, Ravindra Jadeja, AB de Villiers, Ricky Ponting, and Herschelle Gibbs are next on the list, all known for great run-scoring and outstanding fielding. With their fielding, these players have improved the standards seen in international cricket.
In cricket, people usually admire batters and bowlers for being two of the main characters in each match. The role most important in cricket is played by the fielder, who supports the team thoroughly. We are about to talk in this article about the top 5 fielders in cricket who are held in high esteem in cricket circles.
List Of 5 Best fielder in the World of All Time [2025]
There are 5 outstanding fielders who are considered the top in the world (2025).
- Jonty Rhodes helped change fielding because of his unmatched quickness and accuracy.
- Ravindra Jadeja is known right now as the top fielder with quick reflexes.
- AB de Villiers Is an excellent catcher and thrower with instincts similar to keepers.
- Ricky Ponting – Safe hands and sharp anticipation.
- Herschelle Gibbs is a good athlete and always scores hard hits.
1. Jonty Rhodes: No.1 Fielder in the World

Being one of the best fielders in history, Jonty Rhodes has led the South African cricket team to many wins throughout his career. People didn’t realize the significance of fielders in cricket until they saw kookaburra. In today’s cricket, no one surpasses Jonty Rhodes as the best role model on the field.
Format | Years | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 1992–2000 | 34 | 5 | 0 |
ODI | 1992–2003 | 105 | 51 | 0 |
He was a player in whom the opposition didn’t dare think of stealing runs if the ball went into his hands, as his throws were as accurate as arrows of Arjuna, and it seemed as if there was a magnet attached to his hands. In other words, if the ball went to him, catching it was guaranteed. As a fielder, he holds many significant records. He holds the record for the most catches (5) taken in a single ODI match innings. Additionally, his name includes scoring more than 5000 runs and dismissing over 50 batsmen through fielding in ODIs.
You can read more Information about Jonty Rhodes on Wikipedia
2. Ravindra Jadeja: Best Fielder in the World

After Jonty Rhodes, if any player is considered the greatest fielder, it is the star all-rounder of the Indian cricket team, Ravindra Jadeja, whose accuracy is akin to a bullet fired from a gun. Currently, Jadeja is the number 1 fielder in the world, a fact acknowledged even by the all-time great fielder Jonty Rhodes himself. Jadeja’s aura is such that when he has the ball, the opposing team refrains from taking runs. You can gauge the level of Jadeja’s fielding prowess from the fact that even the coaches of the opposing team say in their dressing room that if Jadeja has the ball, you should think twice before attempting a run. As a fielder, he holds many significant records. So far he has taken a total of 141 catches in international cricket.
Format | Years | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 2012–Present | 46 | 8 | 0 |
ODI | 2009–Present | 76 | 22 | 0 |
T20I | 2009–Present | 28 | 10 | 0 |
IPL | 2008–Present | 103 | 24 | 0 |
3. AB de Villiers: World’s Best Fielder of All Time

The third one in the list of best fielders is the South African star batsman AB de Villiers, who is famous internationally for hitting throw. But on the other side, he is very skilled as both a wicketkeeper and a fielder. Among cricketers, Asghar is considered to be the star in making remarkable catches. The accuracy of his throws is also quite remarkable. The record for taking the highest number (11) of catches in one match belongs to him. Besides, he has added to his name by achieving more than 5000 runs and dismissing more than 50 batsmen by fielding in ODI matches.
Format | Years | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 2004–18 | 222 | 6 | 5 |
ODI | 2005–18 | 176 | 30 | 5 |
T20I | 2006–17 | 65 | 4 | 7 |
IPL | 2008–21 | 118 | 13 | 8 |
4. Ricky Ponting: Best Fielder in the World

The next name on this list is former Australian cricket team captain Ricky Ponting, who has earned quite a reputation as a captain and batsman at the global level. People are well acquainted with his records as a captain. However, apart from that, his record as a fielder is also quite strong. In the world of cricket, his hands are referred to as golden hands. This means that the ball is completely safe in his hands, and there is no question of dropping a catch from his hands. He is among those eminent players in the world who have scored over 5000 runs in both Test and ODI formats, and have also sent 50 players to the pavilion in both formats through fielding. In international cricket, he holds the record for taking 364 catches, placing him second in this regard.
Format | Years | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 1995–2012 | 196 | 12 | 0 |
ODI | 1995–2012 | 160 | 64 | 0 |
T20I | 2005–2009 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
IPL | 2008–2013 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
5. Herschelle Gibbs: Best Fielder in the World

In this list, at the fifth position, we have former South African cricket team stalwart batsman Herschelle Gibbs, who has earned quite a reputation as a batsman at the global level and has led his team to victory in many matches. However, alongside this, his record as a fielder is quite impressive. The balls that came out of his hands often spelled doom for batsmen. When he had the ball, the opposing team refrained from taking runs. Additionally, his diving catches and quick throws consistently saved runs in a spectacular manner. He has recorded 210 catches and 43 run-outs in 361 matches.
Format | Years | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 1996–2008 | 94 | 9 | 0 |
ODI | 1996–2010 | 108 | 30 | 0 |
T20I | 2005–2010 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
IPL | 2008–2012 | 22 | 5 | 0 |
Note: Apart from the players included in our list, many players have proven themselves as fielders at the international level. Our list may differ slightly from lists on other websites. However, all the players included in this list were, are, and will remain legends.