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.

Saurabh Chede

Saurabh is a cricket enthusiast who crafts content around the sport. Being from a cricket-crazy nation, he developed an unbreakable bond with the sport. When he's not watching cricket, you'll find him creating funny memes or watching old TMKOC episodes!