Sunil Gavaskar to Prithvi Shaw: Here are 10 shortest players who have featured in international cricket

Cricket is one of the most followed sport in India and their neighbouring nations. Cricket is a sport where we often witness domination from the tall bowlers as well as batters. However, there are cricketers who have shattered expectations and triumphed in the sport despite their smaller stature. 

Here is the list of top 10 short height cricketers who performed well internationally. 

Kruger Van Wyk (4’9″): South Africa-born Kruger Van Wyk who featured for New Zealand was the shortest cricketer. He made his debut as a replacement for BJ Watling but was unable to play for a long time. He featured in nine Test matches where his highest total was 71. He also played a lot of domestic cricket for New Zealand.

Tich Cornford (5'0"): England who are the founder of the game played the international game with a player whose height was 5’0″. Tich Cornford England from England was the shortest cricketer in terms of height who ever featured in for the nation in cricket. He played 4 Test matches but has a decent record in the domestic arena.

Mushfiqur Rahim Bangladesh (5’3″): Mushfiqur Rahim is the shortest cricketer from Bangladesh who played international cricket. Rahim’s short stature never became an issue for both his batting as well as wicketkeeping. He is one of the most successful wicketkeepers for Bangladesh.

Mominul Haque Bangladesh (5’3″): Mominul Haque stands out as one of Bangladesh's most dependable Test batsmen. His consistent performances are evident in his impressive record. Across 61 matches, Haque has amassed runs at a commendable average of 38.64, and his unique achievement of 11 consecutive Test half-centuries underscores his batting prowess. Beyond his batting, he also contributes as a valuable part-time spinner.

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Gundappa Vishwanath India: (5’3″): GR Vishwanath was a diminutive batting maestro who graced the Indian cricket team. Despite his small stature, he was renowned for his elegant strokeplay. In a Test career spanning 91 matches, he amassed over 6,000 runs at an impressive average exceeding 41. After his playing days, Vishwanath transitioned to cricket administration, serving as an ICC match referee from 1999 to 2004. His contributions to Indian cricket were recognized with the prestigious Col. C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Parthiv Patel, India (5’4″): Emerging as a wicket-keeper batsman in India during MS Dhoni's prime was a daunting challenge. The legendary Dhoni's dominance often overshadowed contemporaries, and Parthiv Patel's career serves as a prime example. Despite a precocious debut at 17 in 2002, Patel's international opportunities were curtailed. His Test, ODI, and T20I caps numbered 25, 38, and 2 respectively before retirement in 2018. Beyond the national team, the diminutive Patel was a regular feature in the Indian Premier League.

Prithvi Shaw, India (5’4”): Prithvi Shaw burst onto the Indian cricket scene as a prodigious talent, making his debut in 2018. His aggressive batting style and early successes earned him widespread acclaim. The young opener showcased exceptional ability in both domestic and international cricket. However, despite his immense potential, Shaw has faced challenges in recent times, resulting in a struggle to cement his place in the national team.

Kedar Jadhav, India (5'4"): Kedar made his international debut in 2014 and he became a regular in the ODI team. Jadhav was part of India's 2019 World Cup squad. He can also roll his arms, as Jadhav picked 27 wickets in 73 ODIs. 

Temba Bavuma, South Africa(5'4"): Former South Africa captan Temba Bavuma has earned a reputation for his exceptional batting skills and outstanding fielding abilities. He captained the side in the ODI World Cup 2023. At present, he has been out of the team because of his poor batting form but he can comeback very strongly. However, he is currently leading Proteas in the longest format of the game. 
 

Sunil Gavaskar, India (5’5″): India batting great Sunil Gavaskar also comes in the tally. He was the first batter who scored more than 10000 runs in international cricket. He is also known as ‘Little Master’ for his achievements in cricket. 
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