By Pragun Mehrotra
Made from premium English willow, the SS Gunther bat is currently one of the most expensive cricket bats in the world, priced at ₹1,85,530. Designed for aggressive players, it is known for its shock absorption, wide sweet spot, and comfortable grip. Another top choice is the SG cricket bat, priced at ₹1,79,999, which Hardik Pandya uses for his power-packed strokes.However, some bats become priceless because of the legends who used them. Sir Donald Bradman's bat, made famous during the 1934 Ashes, was auctioned for ₹1.9 crore, becoming the costliest cricket bat ever sold.
No. | Cricket Bat Brand | Cricketer | Cost |
---|---|---|---|
1 | SG (Sanspareil Greenlands) | Hardik Pandya | Rs 1,79,999 |
2 | NB (New Balance) | Steve Smith | Rs 1,11,499 |
3 | Spartan | Chris Gayle | Rs 1,00,000 |
4 | Kookaburra | Jos Buttler | Rs 97,000 |
5 | DSC (Delux Sports Company) | David Warner | Rs 95,000 |
6 | GM (Gunn And Moore) | Ben Stokes | Rs 95,000 |
7 | SS (Sareen Sports) | Surya Kumar Yadav | Rs 92,000 |
8 | Kingsport | Ashleigh Gardner | Rs 91,000 |
9 | Gray Nicolls | Kane Williamson | Rs 83,000 |
10 | MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) | Virat Kohli | Rs 77,000 |
The inception of a cricket bat dates back to the times of 1620. Since then there has been evolution of the dearest instrument which worldwide cricketers make it a preferred choice. Emotions of cricket fans get attached to the iconic costliest cricket bat in the world. A top pick among all costly cricket bats is SG as it is stiff and lightweight. Sanspareil Greenlands associates the price as 1,79,999 INR as English willow is employed making it the costliest bat in the world. Currently, it is the most expensive cricket bat being used by a cricketer.
Cricketers opt for bats as per their individual style of playing and personal needs. For example, the SG cricket bat offers the advantage of visualizing the shots and mastering the techniques.
From MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) to Kookaburra, each cricket player establishes a unique identity. Hardik Pandya, who is a hitter for the Indian cricket team, deploys the most expensive cricket bat (SG) out of all the brands. These bats are listed among the series of costliest cricket bats in the world. Batsmen demonstrate superior control in addition to getting equipped with powerful shots. SG is an expensive cricket bat as it takes into account the fact that it is a durable bat with no risk of moisture sticking to it.
No. | Cricketer | Cost of cricket bat |
---|---|---|
1 | Donald Bradman | 1 Cr 90 Lakh |
2 | MS Dhoni | 1 Cr 50 Lakh |
3 | Garry Sobers | 1 Cr 20 Lakh |
4 | Sachin Tendulkar | 1 Cr |
5 | Brian Lara | 80 Lakh |
6 | Virat Kohli | 75 Lakh |
7 | Steve Smith | 60 Lakh |
8 | Kumar Sangakkara | 50 Lakh |
9 | AB de Villiers | 45 Lakh |
10 | Chris Gayle | 40 Lakh |
Cricketers are known for their iconic shots such as Sachin Tendulkar’s straight drive, MS Dhoni’s helicopter shot, and AB de Villiers’ reverse sweep. The immense confidence strikes due to personal attachment to an efficiently crafted bat as they respect, love, and care about their favorite instrument. Winning the hearts of cricket fans takes collective notions about standard workmanship, luxurious brands, modern technology, and shock-resisting willow wood. These qualities indicate that the most expensive bats used by cricketers deserve a special auction to sell them in a range of 40 lakh to more than 1 Cr.
Whether it is the first six consecutive sixes in international cricket by a Caribbean player, Gary Sobers in 1968, or Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s highest runs equalling 673 in World Cup 2003, their cricket bats deserved the mark of 1 Cr. Such cricket bats find their place in the top 10 most expensive bats.
Former Australian cricketer, Donald Bradman who is an eminent cricketer of all time, outperformed in the Ashes series which took place in 1934. His pivotal role made the Australian team win the Ashes series by 2-1. With persistence, he became a hero for Australian fans as he would endure his test innings with double and triple centuries along with longest-record partnerships. These memorable encounters govern the fact that his bat is ranked in the first position among the top 10 most expensive bats.
The selling price for his gem Kookaburra bat, which is designed to enhance performance in all aspects, was decided at 1.90 Cr for the auction in 2021. He was affectionate with that bat as he signed on it mentioning his total runs 244 and 304 at cricket grounds such as The Oval and Leeds. Thus, with a price of 1.90 Cr, Sir Donald Bradman’s bat became the most expensive bat that is used by a cricketer.
The winning six by former Indian captain MS Dhoni ended the prolonged wait for India continuing from 28 years to win the World Cup trophy. Ravi Shastri, Indian former cricketer and commentator praised the match finisher’s style. Later in 2021, his graceful Reebok bat was valued at 1.5 Cr, resonating with historical importance. MS Dhoni’s bat got the second rank among the top 10 most expensive bats.
It was the first time when a batsman who is also good at bowling and fielding, smashed six sixes in one complete over. In 1968, as an all-rounder, Garry Sobers who is a former West Indies player stamped this record. He is now 88, and his contribution to uplifting the cricket of the West Indies during 1954-1974 is appreciable. His bat was tagged with a price of 1 Cr 20 Lakh in 2000 during an auction as no plan of action had worked against him. Thus, Garry Sober’s cricket bat got placed at third rank on the list of top 10 costliest cricket bats in the world.
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who is also known as the god of cricket, created historical moments with his MRF bat. Gazing at Sachin Tendulkar’s massive innings in World Cup 2003 was rewarding for cricket fans.
Master Blaster’s rapid 673 runs propelled India to play the final match against unbeatable Australia at Johannesburg. A top-notch performer, Sachin was identified with his MRF bat which shot 98 runs with just 75 balls on 1 March 2003 against a sensational Match with Pakistan. Pakistani attack including fast pacer Shoaib Akhtar could not resist him from hitting 12 fours and 1 six at Centurion, South Africa. The credit also goes to his MRF bat as he shined throughout the World Cup due to his valuable asset which got bids at the staggering price of 1 Cr in an auction organised in 2021.
An individual player with 400 runs in a single test inning without even getting out in 2004 is remembered as Brian Lara. No one has ever broken this record showing his mastery over playing correct shots with timing. Holding an English willow bat with perfection as a left-handed batsman helped him with this miraculous moment. The same bat was entitled to be sold at a huge price of 80 Lakhs in an auction that took place in 2021.
Virat Kohli surged to his best performance in the Test format of cricket in 2018 when he ended that year with a splendid 1322 score. Emerging as a batting icon he achieved this feat with 55.03 as the average. With stability plunging into his fabulous career, he played with an MRF bat embodied with superior English willow. Fetching control, speedy shots, easy grip, and firm balance are some of the features this bat exhibits. The skyrocketing price of this bat was derived from King Kohli’s stellar performance valuing it worth 75 Lakhs.
An exceptional test player who is associated with the Australian Team is Steve Smith, recognized for his inclusion in many World Cup victories. This renowned youngest cricketer with 32 hundred has an exceptional talent to identify the cricket bat he is carrying without having an eye on it. His double ton in Lord’s was a point of discussion in Athe shes tournament as he went on to stand alone at the top with 56.44 as average. His appreciable 508 runs added to his reputation for which the Kookaburra bat was incorporated. Priced at 60 Lakhs, his bat was a point of attraction highlighting his amazing performances.
Legendary cricketer in the Sri Lankan team, Kumar Sangakkara turned out to be a game-changer in the T20 International World Cup, in 2014. In the final match, his Kookaburra bat was a run machine while chasing a low score of 130 in a high-pressure match. His crucial 52 runs off 35 balls changed the odds for India despite stopping other players below 25 runs. Even Indian players while fielding appreciated his phenomenal fifty. There could not be any other better way to retire from T20 International than Sanga. His agile bat demonstrating momentous shots was included in the auction at the price of 50 Lakhs.
AB de Villiers, an ex-South African player has a separate fan following even from outside the nation too. His 360-degree style of batting and exclusive shots took him to the great height of his celebrated cricket career. He is still remembered for his fastest hundred against the Caribbean team as he landed the century in just 31 balls. Employing a stunning Kookaburra bat for this noteworthy performance which sped up his inning led it to be worth 45 Lakhs for the deal as part of the auction.
Chris Gayle’s cricket bat is last in the list of the top 10 costliest cricket bats in the world. In 2012, It was the first time that the West Indies won a T20 International World Cup. A giant cricketer who is known for both his tall height and huge sixes, Chris Gayle collected a total fast 222 runs considering 7 matches. When he launches his campaign of sixes, it does not matter who is bowling and where he is playing. Owning a Spartan cricket bat, this Caribbean player has a thousand sixes in the T20 format, a record he owns. As part of craftsmanship by Spartan, his bat was tagged with the price of 40 Lakhs to close the deal at the auction.
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Rank | Team | Rating |
---|---|---|
1. | Australia | 126 |
2. | South Africa | 114 |
3. | India | 111 |
4. | England | 105 |
5. | New Zealand | 97 |
Last Updated on 15 Jan 2025, 12:00 IST
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