Most 4-Wicket Hauls in ODI

A bowler picking up a five-wicket haul in an ODI match is something we don’t see quite often, isn’t it? But we have seen bowlers use clever tactics, bagging four or more wickets several times to change the momentum of the game.

Taking a bunch of wickets in a game requires bowlers to have top-notch skills and the ability to adapt to conditions. And it’s more of a challenge in limited-overs matches where batters are always in destruction mode.

But despite the odds, many bowlers have delivered brilliant spells to take a lot of four-wicket hauls. This article will list the bowlers who have taken four or more wickets the most times in ODI cricket.

Most 4+ Wicket Hauls in ODI

Key Insights on Most Four-Wicket Hauls in ODI Cricket

Leading Individual Four-Wicket Haul Takers in ODIs

Pakistan’s Waqar Younis has taken the most four-wicket hauls in ODI cricket, with 27 spells to his name. He also has the most five-fors (13) in this format.

Muttiah Muralitharan has bagged the most four-wicket hauls (25) among spinners in ODIs.

Venue, Series and Opponent-Specific Four-Wicket Milestones

Shaun Pollock took 13 of his 17 four-fors in South Africa, the most by a bowler at home in ODIs.

Muralitharan and Wasim Akram have picked up the joint-most four-wicket hauls in away ODIs, with 10 each to their names.

Vasbert Drakes (WI vs BAN, 2002), Abdur Razzak (BAN vs ZIM, 2010), Matt Henry (NZ vs SL, 2015) and Rashid Khan (AFG vs IRE, 2017) are the four bowlers who’ve taken three four-wicket hauls each in a bilateral ODI series.

Younis claimed nine of his 27 four-fors at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the most by a bowler at a single venue in ODIs.

Younis produced seven of his four-wicket hauls against New Zealand, the most by anyone against an opponent in ODIs.

Younis is the only bowler to take five or more four-fors against three ODI teams. Apart from New Zealand, he had five four-fors each against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Younis also holds the record for the most four-wicket hauls in a calendar year in ODIs. He produced seven four-fors in 19 innings in 1990.

Age Related ODI Four-for Records

Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the youngest bowler to take a four-wicket haul in ODIs. He returned 4 for 24 against Ireland on his debut at the age of 16 years and 252 days in 2017.

Mujeeb is the only bowler to produce three four-wicket hauls before turning 17 in ODIs.

England’s Norman Gifford is the oldest bowler with a four-for in ODIs. He claimed the figures of4 for 23 against Pakistan at the age of 44 years and 361 days in 1985.

Oman’s Aamir Kaleem (42y 375d), South Africa’s Imran Tahir (40y 80d) and Canada’s George Codrington (40y 4d) are the other three bowlers to take four-for after turning 40 in ODIs.

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