Most Wickets by Leg Spinners in ODI

Discover the definitive statistical breakdown and historic milestones regarding the most wickets by leg spinners in ODI cricket history.

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Most ODI Wickets by Leg Spinners

Player	Innings	Wickets	Best Bowling (Innings)	Average	Economy	Strike Rate	4W/5W
Shahid Afridi (PAK)	372	395	7/12	34.51	4.62	44.7	4/9
Anil Kumble (IND)	265	337	6/12	30.89	4.30	43.0	8/2
Shane Warne (AUS)	191	293	5/33	25.73	4.25	36.3	12/1
Adil Rashid (ENG)	155	242	5/27	31.28	5.62	33.3	10/2
Rashid Khan (AFG)	112	214	7/18	19.83	4.24	28.0	6/6
Adam Zampa (AUS)	121	198	5/35	29.33	5.52	31.8	12/1
Imran Tahir (SA)	104	173	7/45	24.83	4.65	32.0	7/3
Mushtaq Ahmed (PAK)	142	161	5/36	33.29	4.26	46.8	3/1
Sandeep Lamichhane (NEP)	72	154	6/11	19.25	4.37	26.3	9/3
Upul Chandana (SL)	136	151	5/61	31.90	4.70	40.6	4/1

Key Insights on Leading Wicket Takers Among Leg Spinners in ODIs

Highest Wicket Takers and Best Bowling Figures by Leg Spinners in ODIs

Shahid Afridi has taken the most wickets as a leg spinner in ODIs. His 395 wickets are, in fact, the second-most by any spinner in this format.

Afridi has also bagged the most five-wicket hauls among leg spinners in ODIs, with nine such spells to his name.

Eight leg spinners have picked up 10 or more four-plus wicket hauls in ODIs. They are Afridi, Shane Warne, Adam Zampa, Sandeep Lamichhane, Adil Rashid, Rashid Khan, Imran Tahir and Anil Kumble.

Afridi has also delivered the best bowling figures among leg spinners in ODIs. He returned 7 for 12 against the West Indies in the 2013 Providence ODI. This is also the best bowling figure by any tweaker in this format.

Rashid (7/18 vs WI, 2018), Wanindu Hasaranga (7/19 vs ZIM, 2024) and Tahir (7/45 vs WI, 2016) are the other leggies with a seven-wicket haul in this format.

Warne has claimed the most wickets as a leg spinner in a calendar year in ODIs. He fetched 62 scalps in 36 innings in 1999.

Fastest to 100 ODI Wickets and Top Bowling Averages

15 right-arm leg spinners have taken 100 or more wickets in the ODI format.

Among them, Lamichhane is the fastest leg spinner to take 100 ODI wickets, having reached the mark in 42 matches. This also makes him the fastest bowler to reach the milestone in ODIs.

Lamichhane and Rashid are the two leg spinners to average under 20 in ODIs (minimum 50 innings).

Abdul Qadir has the lowest economy rate as a leg spinner in ODIs (minimum 2000 balls bowled). He claimed 132 wickets at 4.06 in 100 innings for Pakistan. Find the overall bowlers list here with the best economy rate in ODIs.

Lamichhane, Rashid and Hasaranga are the three leg spinners with bowling strike rates below 30 in ODIs (minimum 2000 balls bowled).

Outstanding Home, Away, and Bilateral Series Performances

Warne picked up 136 of his 293 wickets in Australia, the most by a leg spinner at home in ODIs. This is the second-most ODI wickets by a tweaker at home.

Afridi, meanwhile, has the most away wickets among leg spinners in ODIs. He claimed 140 of his 395 scalps outside of Pakistan.

India’s Amit Mishra has bagged the most wickets as a leg spinner in an ODI bilateral series. He returned with 18 wickets on the 2013 five-match Zimbabwe tour.

Afridi took 67 of his wickets against Sri Lanka, the most by a leggie against an ODI team.

Warne (vs SA & WI) and Rashid (vs IRE & ZIM) are the two wicketkeepers with 50 or more wickets against two opponents each.

Question: Can you guess which bowler has taken the most ODI wickets against a single opposition?

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!