Best Bowling Figures by Spinners in ODI
This article will discover the most exceptional spin bowling performances in ODI history, highlighting record-breaking figures, remarkable debuts, and legendary World Cup spells by spin bowlers.
Best Bowling Figures by Spinners in ODIs
| Player | Bowling Figures (Overs) | Economy | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 7/12 (9.0) | 1.33 | West Indies | Providence | 14 Jul 2013 |
| Rashid Khan (AFG) | 7/18 (8.4) | 2.07 | West Indies | Gros Islet | 9 Jun 2017 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (SL) | 7/19 (5.5) | 3.25 | Zimbabwe | Colombo (RPS) | 11 Jan 2024 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | 7/30 (10.0) | 3.00 | India | Sharjah | 27 Oct 2000 |
| Imran Tahir (SA) | 7/45 (9.0) | 5.00 | West Indies | Basseterre | 15 Jun 2016 |
| Sandeep Lamichhane (NEP) | 6/11 (5.1) | 2.12 | Papua New Guinea | Al Amerat | 10 Sep 2021 |
| Anil Kumble (IND) | 6/12 (6.1) | 1.94 | West Indies | Eden Gardens | 27 Nov 1993 |
| Ajantha Mendis (SL) | 6/13 (8.0) | 1.62 | India | Karachi | 6 Jul 2008 |
| Sandeep Lamichhane (NEP) | 6/16 (6.0) | 2.66 | USA | Kirtipur | 12 Feb 2020 |
| Imran Tahir (SA) | 6/24 (6.0) | 4.00 | Zimbabwe | Bloemfontein | 3 Oct 2018 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (SL) | 6/24 (8.0) | 3.00 | UAE | Bulawayo | 19 Jun 2023 |
| Kuldeep Yadav (IND) | 6/25 (10.0) | 2.50 | England | Nottingham | 12 Jul 2018 |
Key Insights on Top ODI Bowling Spells by Spinners
Best Bowling Figures by Spinners in ODI Matches
Shahid Afridi has bowled the best bowling figures as a spinner in ODIs. He returned 7 for 12 in nine overs against the West Indies in the 2013 Providence ODI.
Muttiah Muralitharan’s figures of 7 for 30 are the best by an off-spinner in ODIs. He was, in fact, the first spinner to take a seven-wicket haul in ODIs. He is also the highest wicket-taking offie in all ODIs.
Wanindu Hasaranga has claimed the best bowling figures as a spinner in the first innings of an ODI match. He took 7 wickets for 19 runs in just 5.5 overs against Zimbabwe in the 2024 Colombo ODI.
Hasaranga’s figures of 7 for 19 are also the best by a spinner at home in ODIs.
Muralitharan has taken the most four- (25) and five-wicket (10) hauls as a spinner in ODIs.
ODI Spin Bowling Records by Age and Debut
Pakistan’s Arafat Minhas has taken the best bowling figures as a spinner on ODI debut. He claimed 5 for 32 against Australia in the 2026 Rawalpindi ODI.
Notably, Minhas became the first spinner to return with a five-wicket haul on ODI debut.
Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the youngest spinner to take a five-wicket haul in ODIs. He grabbed 5 wickets for 50 runs against Zimbabwe at the age of 16 years and 325 days in the 2018 Sharjah ODI.
Mujeeb is also the only tweaker to pick up four or more wickets each in three ODI innings before turning 17.
Canada’s Sunil Dhaniram is the oldest spinner to bag a five-for in ODIs. He was 39 years and 256 days old when he picked up 5 for 32 against Bermuda in 2008.
South Africa’s Imran Tahir is the only spinner with two four-wicket hauls after turning 39.
Best Spin Bowling Performances by Captains and in World Cups
New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori has delivered the best bowling figures as a spin-bowling captain in ODIs. He fetched 5 for 7 against Bangladesh in the 2007 Queenstown ODI.
Afridi and Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus are the only two captains with multiple five-wicket hauls as spinners in ODIs.
Notably, Afridi’s both five-fors came in the ODI World Cup, the only spinner to do so.
In fact, Afridi has recorded the best bowling figures as a spinner in the ODI World Cup. He took 5 wickets for 16 runs against Kenya in the 2011 edition. His other five-for (5/23) came against Canada in the same edition.
