The title “godfather of cricket” is not official, and different people use it for different legends, but the name most widely linked with this phrase is W.G. Grace, with Sachin Tendulkar often called the godfather (or “god”) of modern/Indian cricket.

Quick Scoop: Who is the “Godfather of Cricket”?

If you’re asking “who is the godfather of cricket” in a general, historical sense, the most accepted answer is:

  • W.G. Grace – Often described as the original or founding “godfather of cricket” because he transformed the game from a pastime into a serious, popular sport in England in the late 19th century.

But in modern fan conversations and recent articles, you’ll also see:

  • Sachin Tendulkar – Frequently called the “godfather of modern cricket” or “God of Indian cricket” thanks to his 100 international centuries and 34,000+ international runs, plus his huge cultural impact in India.
  • Format‑/era‑specific uses – Some writers call MS Dhoni the “godfather of IPL” or a new godfather of cricket because of his captaincy and all three ICC trophies (T20 2007, ODI 2011, Champions Trophy 2013).
  • A few sources and discussions also throw in Sir Donald Bradman as an early “godfather” or “father of modern cricket” because of his unmatched Test average of 99.94, and even media references to Richie Benaud as a “godfather” figure for his influence as player and commentator.

How fans and sites usually frame it

Many recent explainers don’t pick a single universal “godfather of cricket”. Instead, they frame it as:

  • W.G. Grace – founding godfather of cricket’s early era.
  • Don Bradman – godfather or father of early modern batting.
  • Sachin Tendulkar – godfather of Indian or modern cricket globally.
  • MS Dhoni – godfather of IPL or modern captaincy in T20/limited‑overs.

So if you need one simple name for “who is the godfather of cricket?” in historical terms, say W.G. Grace ; if you mean in today’s global, Indian‑centric era, most fans will point to Sachin Tendulkar.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.