Top 5 best teams in cricket post pandemic

Overview

• England, New Zealand, and South Africa have won an ICC trophy each since 2021 in different formats
• Australia is the most successful team in major tournaments, as they won the T20 World Cup in 2021, the World Test Championship in 2023, and the ODI World Cup in 2023
• India is right up there with Australia, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy in 2025

Cricket post pandemic has been different than it was before 2020. There has been an emphasis on workload management, mental health of the players, scheduling the tournaments, carefully selecting players for series other than the ICC tournaments, and many other reforms. Things returned to full normalcy only by 2023.

Since 2021, several teams have won ICC tournaments. While many of them had already won their maiden titles elsewhere, the introduction of the World Test Championship opened a new trophy to hunt. In the last 5 years, five major teams have won all the ICC tournaments. These also happen to be the best cricket teams in the period.

Also Read: 5 greatest bowlers to have played for South Africa

Top 5 best teams in cricket post pandemic

England 

England has been good in T20 tournaments. They made it to the semifinal of the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2024. England won its second T20 World Cup in 2022 under the captaincy of Jos Buttler. However, they have had a downfall in both Tests and ODIs.

In Tests, England hasn't been able to challenge India and Australia in their backyard. In fact, England hasn't won a home Test series against them in the period. In ODIs, they couldn't even make it to the semifinal of the ODI World Cup 2023 and the Champions Trophy 2025.

Also Check: 4 lower ranked teams to have beaten South Africa in Cricket

New Zealand

New Zealand won the first-ever World Test Championship final and claimed the Test mace in 2021. In the same year, they made it to their first-ever T20 World Cup final. Things went slightly downhill for them from 2022. They made it to the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022.

They couldn't defend the Test mace in 2023 and made it to the semifinal of the ODI World Cup in 2023. NZ's only bad result was a group stage exit in the T20 World Cup 2024. In 2025, New Zealand made it to the final of the Champions Trophy.

Read More: 3 Indian batters to have taken least innings to score 3000 international runs

South Africa

South Africa couldn't achieve a lot in 2021 and 2022. Since then, they have had a huge resurgence. In 2023, South Africa made it to the semifinal of the ODI World Cup. Just a year later, South Africa made it to the final of the T20 World Cup and lost it by just 7 runs.

However, South Africa's biggest glory came in 2025, when they won the World Test Championship mace. In the same year, they made it to the Semifinal of the Champions Trophy. The Proteas have a great potential to win more trophies in the near future.

Tap Here: 7 Indian players to have played 50 international matches across formats

India

India has been the second best cricket side post pandemic. They have made it to the final of the World Test Championship twice (2021 and 2023, respectively). In the T20 World Cup 2021, they faced a Group Stage Elimination, but qualified for the Semifinal in 2022.

In 2023, India was unbeaten in the ODI World Cup but lost the final to Australia. However, the heartbreak led to a memorable T20 World Cup win in 2024. In under a year, India also won the Champions Trophy in 2025.

Australia

Australia has won the most ICC titles post pandemic. In 2021, Australia won its first-ever T20 World Cup. 2022 wasn't good for Australia, as they failed to qualify for the Semifinal of the T20 World Cup. 

In 2023, Australia won its first-ever World Test Championship. A few months later, Australia won arguably its biggest trophy by clinching the ODI World Cup. While they haven't won anything big since then, Australia is the best team post pandemic.