It’s not quite often we see bowlers running through a batting side in ODI matches. Given the limited resources in hand, it’s not easy to take five-wicket hauls in 50-over cricket.
So even if a bowler can’t manage to grab fifers more often, they have dealt significant blows to opponents by picking up three or more wickets consistently. These three-plus wicket hauls have proven crucial in teams gaining advantage over their opponents.
So here are the bowlers who have taken three or more wickets the most times in ODI cricket.
Most 3+ Wicket Hauls in ODI
| Player | Innings | 3+ Wickets | Total Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 351 | 76 | 502 |
| Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) | 341 | 68 | 534 |
| Brett Lee (AUS) | 217 | 55 | 380 |
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | 258 | 53 | 416 |
| Shaun Pollock (SA) | 297 | 48 | 393 |
| Saqlain Mushtaq (PAK) | 165 | 48 | 288 |
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 248 | 45 | 381 |
| Lasith Malinga (SL) | 220 | 45 | 338 |
| Chaminda Vaas (SL) | 320 | 43 | 400 |
| Allan Donald (SA) | 162 | 42 | 272 |
Key Insights
76: Instances of Wasim Akram taking three or more wickets in an ODI innings, which is the most by a bowler.
502: Akram’s 502 wickets are the second-most after Muthiah Muralitharan’s 534. The former Pakistani fast bowler was the first-ever bowler to breach that mark back in 2003.
13: Waqar Younis, who is fourth on the list, has bagged the most four-plus and five-plus wicket hauls in ODIs. He took 27 four-plus and 13 five-plus wicket hauls in the format.
11: Bowlers have racked up 40 or more three-plus wicket hauls in ODIs, though only three spinners feature among them. Apart from Muralitharan (68) and Saqlain Mushtaq (48), former Pakistani leg spinner Shahid Afridi is the only other spinner, having taken three or more wickets 42 times.
69: Number of bowlers who have picked up three or more wickets in 20-plus ODI innings in their careers. Here as well, pacers dominate, with 21 spinners managing to do so.
1: Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane is the only bowler from an associate team to feature among the 69 bowlers.
4: Number of bowlers who have taken three or more wickets in more than 10 ODI World Cup innings. Glenn McGrath, Mohammed Shami, and Muthiah Muralitharan have taken 11 three-plus wicket hauls, while Lasith Malinga picked up 10.
