Most ODI Wickets as a Captain

Leading a team is a strenuous job for any player. And the added responsibility of captaining a side might as well affect an individual’s performance.

However, some captains have prevailed well, delivering promising performances in pressure situations. A few bowlers have been privileged to lead their teams and set the right example by picking up wickets at crucial points.

This article lists the top 10 bowlers with the most wickets as captains in ODI cricket.

Most Wickets as a Captain in ODI

Key Insights

Wasim Akram holds the record for scalping the most wickets as a captain in the ODI format. He captained Pakistan in 109 ODIs between 1993 and 2000, taking 158 wickets, including 9 four-fers and 2 five-wicket hauls.

Moreover, Akram’s bowling average is the best among the captains with 50+ ODI wickets. He grabbed a wicket after giving away an average of 22.63 runs.

Dwayne Bravo has the best bowling strike rate among the skipper with 50+ wickets. The West Indies all-rounder minted a wicket after every 27 balls (26.9). Bravo picked up 53 scalps in 34 innings.

Waqar Younis picked up 13 five-wicket hauls in his ODI career. Out of them, he took 3 while at the helm of the Pakistan team — the most fifers by a captain in ODIs.

Younis also has the best bowling figures by a captain in the 50-over format. During the 2001 NatWest Triangular Series, he rattled England’s 7 wickets for 36 runs. Two days later, Younis followed that up with 6 for 59 against Australia, making him the only skipper to grab 6 or more wickets in an innings twice.

Over 23 bowlers have taken 50 or more wickets as captains of their respective teams in ODIs.