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Cricket is often celebrated as a team sport, but every now and then, a single player rises above everyone else and carries the entire match on their shoulders. These heroic displays — where one individual takes control of the game despite little support — define what it means to be a one-man army in cricket.
Whether it’s a fighting knock under pressure, a spell of magical bowling, or an all-round performance that defies logic, these moments are etched in cricketing folklore. Here, we honor the top 10 one-man army performances in cricket history — stories of grit, brilliance, and sheer determination.
10. Andre Russell – KKR vs RCB (IPL 2019)
Chasing 206, KKR were struggling until Andre Russell unleashed a brutal 13-ball 48*. No other batter crossed 40, but Russell single-handedly finished the game with five sixes in an over. It was a classic display of a one-man army in cricket, demolishing one of the biggest totals.
9. Charles Coventry – 194 vs Bangladesh (2009)*
In a little-known ODI, Zimbabwe’s Charles Coventry smashed 194*, equaling the then world record for the highest individual ODI score. His team scored 312 — Coventry scored more than 60% of the runs. Sadly, Bangladesh chased it down, but his knock remains a pure one-man army in cricket act.
8. Michael Holding – 14/149 vs England (1976)
Holding was unstoppable in this Test match, taking 14 wickets on a flat Oval pitch. He bowled 53 overs in the game and gave England nightmares. With little support from the other end, Holding’s solo brilliance marked one of the fiercest one-man army in cricket bowling displays.
7. Paul Collingwood – 120 vs Australia (2007 CB Series Final)*
England were on the brink of collapse, but Collingwood’s unbeaten 120 saved the series. No one else crossed 30, but he held the innings together and then came back to take wickets too. This performance was textbook one-man army in cricket grit.
6. Yuvraj Singh – 2002 NatWest Final (Bat & Spirit)
Sourav Ganguly took the shirt off, but Yuvraj Singh’s 69 off 63 in a high-pressure chase was the spark India needed. At 146/5, Yuvraj counterattacked fiercely when the game seemed lost. While Kaif finished it, Yuvi’s knock was the turning point — a true one-man army in cricket effort.
5. Brian Lara – 153 vs Australia (1999, Barbados Test)*
Lara’s 153* while chasing 308 is regarded as the greatest fourth innings knock ever. West Indies were 105/5, facing defeat, but Lara stood tall against McGrath and Warne. He scored over 49% of his team’s runs — this was elite-level one-man army in cricket magic.
4. Shahid Afridi – 54 & 5/38 vs India (Asia Cup 2010)
In a high-stakes Indo-Pak match, Afridi hit a blazing 54 off 29 balls and then returned to take 5 wickets. With no major contributions from teammates, Afridi’s all-round brilliance made this one of Pakistan’s greatest one-man army in cricket moments.
3. Sachin Tendulkar – 136 vs Pakistan (1999, Chennai Test)
Chasing 271, India were cruising with Sachin in flow. Battling back pain, he kept scoring, but once he fell for 136, India collapsed and lost by 12 runs. Sachin’s lone battle against Wasim, Waqar, and Saqlain made this one of the saddest yet legendary one-man army in cricket innings.
2. AB de Villiers – 162 vs West Indies (2015 World Cup)*
ABD’s 162* off 66 balls was outrageous. South Africa posted 408, and he scored 40% of the total alone. No one had ever made batting look so effortless. This was destruction personified — a record-breaking, unforgettable one-man army in cricket performance.
1. Ben Stokes – 135 vs Australia (2019 Ashes Headingley Test)*
Down and out at 9 wickets, 76 runs still required, and with only Jack Leach for company — Ben Stokes pulled off the unthinkable. Sixes, sweeps, and sheer madness followed as he secured the most impossible win in modern Test history. This was the ultimate one-man army in cricket moment, and it shook the world.
What Makes a True One-Man Army in Cricket?
- Solo Dominance: One player performing when the rest fail.
- Under Pressure: Often in losing situations, these players fight back.
- Match Impact: Their efforts either win the game or drag the team close.
- Legacy Factor: These performances are remembered for decades.
Other Near One-Man Army Moments Worth Mentioning
- MS Dhoni’s 113* vs Pakistan (2012 Chennai ODI)
- Mohammad Nabi’s 115* vs Zimbabwe (2017)
- Kevin O’Brien’s 113 vs England (2011 World Cup)
- Kane Williamson’s 132* vs England (2015)
The one-man army in cricket stories are the ones that inspire us most — where a player says “I got this” and takes the match into their own hands. It’s more than a performance; it’s a display of heart, resilience, and unbreakable will.
These 10 players didn’t just play well — they fought alone, stood tall, and changed games with their individual brilliance. And in doing so, they carved their names into cricketing history as legends who refused to surrender.
FAQ – One-Man Army in Cricket!
Q1: What defines a one-man army in cricket?
A player who almost single-handedly contributes the majority of runs, wickets, or both when others fail.
Q2: Has any player done this consistently?
Legends like Lara, Stokes, ABD, and Sachin have had multiple such games.
Q3: Can bowlers also be one-man armies?
Absolutely. Performances like Michael Holding’s 14 wickets or Afridi’s 5-wicket hauls are examples.