Over the years, many cricket players have shown that height isn’t a path to success. The shortest of the cricketers in history has left a massive impact on the sport.
From Test cricket to T20 formats, from Asia to Australia, players of all heights have achieved extraordinary success. Being short creates a lower centre of gravity, which improves balance and agility. Therefore, sometimes being short is a clear advantage while batting and fielding.
Some of cricket’s greatest batsmen were short in height. For example, Sunil Gavaskar is just 5’2″, David Boon is 5’3″, Sachin Tendulkar is 5 5”, and even the great Don Bradman was relatively short at 5’8 “.
These great names prove that hard work beats natural advantages all the time. Technique is more important than physical gifts. Mental toughness overcomes perceived limitations.
Who is the Shortest Cricketer in the World?
The shortest cricketers in the world have turned their modest height into an advantage, using agility, balance, and quick decision-making to outperform taller opponents.
| Rank | Player Name | Country | Height (ft/in) | Height (cm) | Role | Key Achievements |
| 1 | Mushfiqur Rahim | Bangladesh | 5’3″ | 160 cm | Wicketkeeper-Batsman | Over 15,200 international runs, former Bangladesh captain, key player in historic wins |
| 2 | Mominul Haque | Bangladesh | 5’3″ | 160 cm | Batsman / Spinner | 11 consecutive Test half-centuries, 13 Test centuries, Test specialist |
| 3 | Temba Bavuma | South Africa | 5’4″ | 163 cm | Batsman | South Africa captain, ODI best 144, key leader across formats |
| 4 | Prithvi Shaw | India | 5’4″ | 163 cm | Batsman | Youngest Indian to score Test century on debut, fastest Ranji Trophy double century |
| 5 | Sarfaraz Khan | India | 5’5″ | 165 cm | Batsman | Twin fifties on Test debut, strong domestic & IPL performer |
| 6 | Ishan Kishan | India | 5’6″ | 168 cm | Wicketkeeper-Batsman | Youngest ODI double-centurion, explosive IPL and international batter |
| 7 | Kuldeep Yadav | India | 5’6″ | 168 cm | Spin Bowler | Two international hat-tricks, 2024 T20 WC & 2025 CT winner |
| 8 | Ajinkya Rahane | India | 5’6″ | 170 cm | Batsman | Over 5,000 Test runs, former India vice-captain, KKR IPL captain |
| 9 | Rishabh Pant | India | 5’7″ | 170 cm | Wicketkeeper-Batsman | Most expensive IPL player (₹27 crore), Test vice-captain |
| 10 | Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | 5’7″ | 170 cm | Wicketkeeper-Batsman | ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year 2021, PSL title-winning captain |
1.Mushfiqur Rahim(Bangladesh)
Mushfiqur Rahim had a height of just 5 feet and 3 inches, bagging the record of the shortest cricketer in the world. Despite having a height disadvantage, he is the first to score more than 15,200 runs across his career.
Mushfiqur Rahim is one of Bangladesh’s most experienced and successful international cricketers. He made his debut in 2005 and has been securing a start across several formats for nearly two decades now.
He has also been captain and vice-captain of Bangladesh, and a crucial factor in many of their historic wins.
2. Mominul Haque(Bangladesh)
With a height of 5 feet and 3 inches, Mominul is a left-handed batsman and a left-arm orthodox spinner. He is known for his record-breaking 11 consecutive half-centuries in Test matches.
Born on September 29, 1991, Mominul has played around 75 Test matches, scored 4,859 runs at an average of nearly 38, including 13 centuries and 25 fifties. He’s also played ODIs and T20S but is best known for his Test consistency.
3. Temba Bavuma(South Africa)
Bavuma, who is just 5 feet 4 inches, is a key batter and leader for the South African national team, having captained South Africa across formats. He has scored on several occasions in ODIs and Tests, including a career-best 144 in an ODI vs West Indies. Temba Bavuma’s leadership has been super important in South Africa’s cricketing journey overall.
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4. Prithvi Shaw(India)
Prithivi Shaw is the shortest Indian cricketer right now, with a height of just 5 feet 4 inches. Born on November 9, 199 in Thane, Maharashtra, Shaw emerged as a young talent, becoming the youngest Indian male to score a Test century on debut (134 vs West Indies in 2018).
Domestically, he played in Mumbai, Maharashtra. His career highlight is scoring the second-fastest double century (222) in Ranji Trophy history, along with the explosive performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
5. Sarfaraz Khan(India)
At just 5 feet and 5 inches, Sarfaraz has established himself as a highly talented young batter with a strong domestic record and was the fourth youngest IPL player when he debuted.
As a right-handed batter and Legbreak bowler, he made his Test debut on 15 February 2024 vs England and scored twin fifties, becoming one of the few players with two 50+ scores on debut. His IPL and domestic contributions continue to make him a notable future Indian batting prospect.
He played for several domestic teams like Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, RCB, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. He is currently playing at Chennai Super Kings.
6. Ishan Kishan (India)
Ishan Pranav Kumar Pandey Kishan is an Indian wicket keeper and left-handed batsman. At just 5 feet and 6 inches(168 cm) He made his international debut in March 2021 against England. He plays for Jharkhand in domestic cricket. In the Indian Premier League, he plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In December 2022, he scored 210 runs in 131 balls in a One Day International (ODI) match against Bangladesh, becoming the youngest cricketer to score an ODI double century and the first to convert a maiden ODI century to a double century.
7. Kuldeep Yadav
5 feet and 6 inches(168 cm) is the height of Kuldeep Yadav, aka “Chinaman”. He was Born on 14 December 1994 in Uttar Pradesh, India. He is a left-handed batter and left- arm wrist spin bowler.
He currently plays for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket and Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. He played a crucial role of bowler in an Indian team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
On 18 December 2019, against the West Indies, he set a record of being the first bowler for India to take two hat-tricks in international cricket. Additionally, on 17 January 2020, in the second ODI against Australia, Yadav became the fastest spin bowler for India.
8. Ajinkya Rahane(India)
Rahane is an Indian cricketer born on 6 June 1998in Maharashtra, India. With a height of just 5 feet 6 inches(1.70 m), Rahane is an Indian Test and limited-overs batter renowned for his elegant technique and calmness. He has over 5,000 Test runs and has been India’s strong starter in tough matches.
In the 2025 IPL, he was the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), leading them through the season.
9.Rishab Pant(India)
Rishabh Rajendra Pant is a 5 feet 7 inches(170 cm) tall Indian wicket keeper and batsman. He was born on 4 October 1997 in Uttarakhand, India. Domestically, he had played for Delhi, now currently playing for Lucknow Super Giants.
He is currently the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team in the Test format. He captains the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.
Pant became the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League when he was bought for approx. 27.00 crore (US$3.2 million) by the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 league auction.
10. Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
Mohammad Rizwan, also 5 feet 7 inches, is a Pakistani right-handed batter and wicket-keeper. He captains Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team in domestic cricket. He has previously been the captain of the Pakistan team in ODIs and vice-captain in Test cricket and T20Is.
In PSL, he played for Lahore Qalandars from 2016 to 2017, later playing for Karachi Kings from 2018 to 2020, and since 2021 captains Multan Sultans. He was a crucial player for Multan Sultans, leading them to win the 2021 Pakistan Super League.
In 2021, he was named the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year and was also among the Wisden Cricketers of the Year.
Conclusion
The list of the top 10 shortest players in the world is dominated by Asians, especially Indians. Despite the height disadvantages, these cricketers have cemented their place in the cricketing world, becoming a big inspiration for many people around the globe.
Each has unique strengths: from Ishan Kishan’s explosive batting to Kuldeep Yadav’s rare spin craft and Rizwan’s consistency under pressure
As you saw, height for anyone in the world is something which they can’t do much about, but still, these cricketers decided to shine based on their skills, not just height.
