There is a common saying that, cricket matches and tournaments are won by the team through their bowlers. It is no different when it comes to the ODI format.
Many bowlers have made a career by picking chunk of wickets for their team match after match and proved to be their vital match-winner during the day. Over time, these players became legends and an undeniable part of ODI history.
So, Here are cricketers who have taken the most wickets in ODI cricket.
Most Wickets in ODI Cricket
| Player | Innings | Wickets | Average | 4w/5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) | 341 | 534 | 23.08 | 15/10 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 351 | 502 | 23.52 | 17/6 |
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | 258 | 416 | 23.84 | 14/13 |
| Chaminda Vaas (SL) | 320 | 400 | 27.53 | 9/4 |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 372 | 395 | 34.51 | 4/9 |
| Shaun Pollock (SA) | 297 | 393 | 24.5 | 12/5 |
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 248 | 381 | 22.02 | 9/7 |
| Brett Lee (AUS) | 217 | 380 | 23.36 | 149 |
| Lasith Malinga (SL) | 220 | 338 | 28.87 | 11/8 |
| Anil Kumble (IND) | 265 | 337 | 30.89 | 8/2 |
Key Stats
14: The number of bowlers to have taken 300 or more in ODI cricket. Sanath Jayasuriya (323), Daniel Vettori (305), Javagal Srinath (315), and Shakib al Hasan with 317 wickets are the others to cross this milestone.
42 bowlers have taken 200 or more wickets in ODI cricket, with Dwayne Bravo of the West Indies and Nuwan Kulasekara missing by a whisker to join the list. The duo finished their ODI career with 199 scalps. 170 bowlers have taken at least 100 wickets, and overall, 1879 different bowlers have opened their wicket accounts in ODIs.
21.78: Allan Donald and Saqlain Mushtaq’s bowling average is the best for bowlers with a minimum of 200 ODI wickets. While Donald took 272 wickets, Saqlain ended with 288 ODI scalps. They are followed by Glenn McGrath, whose bowling average was 22.02. Here’s a list of bowlers (with 100+ ODI wickets) with the best bowling average.
13: Pakistan’s Waqar Younis has taken the most five-wicket hauls in ODIs, and the next best is Muralitharan, who has 10 to his name.
Waqar also has taken four wickets or more in an innings 27 times, the most by any bowler. Muralitharan comes in next with 25 instances, while Lee and Akram have 23 four-fers respectively.
8/19: Chaminda Vaas has registered ODI cricket’s best bowling figures, with Afridi’s 7/12 coming in next, followed by McGrath’s 7/15.
Check: Which two bowlers picked the first 50 ODI wickets within a year of debut?
