The Cricket World Cup has been the greatest tournament of the game. Batsmen and bowlers are incomplete without each other in the game. Like batsmen, bowlers have also been a very crucial part of the game. Over the years many bowlers have played the World Cup and dominated it. Let’s have a look at the bowlers with the most wickets in World Cup history.
Most Wickets In The World Cup By a Bowler
Ex-Australian legend Glenn McGrath holds the record for taking the most number of wickets 71 in World Cup history. McGrath has played 3 world cups (1996-2007). He is probably the best fast bowler to ever have been part of the game. His line, length, and swing were the strength of his bowling. He was someone who proved himself irrespective of the conditions of the pitches. The Aussie is also the highest wicket-taker for his country across all formats (949).
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 39 | 39 | 71 | 18.19 | 27.5 | 7/15 | 3.96 | 2 |
Most Wickets In World Cup 1996
Former Indian leggie Anil Kumble grabbed the most number of wickets (15) in the 1996 World Cup. Kumble was one of the best spinners of his era. He used to bowl spin with a bit of pace and deceive the batsmen and was very hard to be picked up by the batsmen.
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 7 | 7 | 15 | 18.73 | 27.8 | 3/28 | 4.03 | 0 |
Most Wickets In World Cup 1999
Kiwi left-arm fast bowler Geoff Allott bagged the most number of wickets in the 1999 World Cup. The seamer from New Zealand was exceptional throughout the tournament and picked up 20 wickets in 9 matches at an impressive bowling average of 16.25.
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 9 | 9 | 20 | 16.25 | 26.3 | 4/37 | 3.70 | 0 |
Most Wickets In World Cup 2003
Ex-Srilankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas got the most number of wickets in the 2003 World Cup. The left-arm seamer used to trouble batsmen with his unplayable swing and he is also the second-highest wicket-taker in the ODIs for Sri Lanka.
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 10 | 30 | 23 | 14.39 | 22.9 | 6/25 | 3.76 | 1 |
Most Wickets In World Cup 2007
The greatest fast bowler of all time, Glenn McGrath was the most wickets-taker in the 2007 WC. He played a total of 11 matches and took 26 wickets in the 2007 WC. The ace bowler is also the highest wicket-taker in World Cup cricket. He played a big role for Australia in winning the 2007 World Cup.
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 11 | 11 | 26 | 13.73 | 18.6 | 3/14 | 4.41 | 0 |
Most Wickets In World Cup 2011
Pakistani leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan took the most number of wickets in the 2011 WC. Zaheer and Afridi got 21 wickets in 8 and 9 matches apiece. Zaheer Khan’s brilliant bowling in the series helped India to win the World Cup after 28 years in 2011 since their first win in 1983. Whether Afridi bowled with the best average of 12.85 in the event.
Shahid Afridi
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 8 | 8 | 21 | 12.85 | 21.2 | 5/16 | 3.62 | 2 |
Zaheer Khan
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 9 | 9 | 21 | 18.76 | 23.2 | 3/20 | 4.83 | 0 |
Most Wickets In World Cup 2015
Australian left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc bagged the most number of wickets (22) in the 2015 WC. Starc is known for his raw pace along with both swings. He was one of those players who assisted Australia to win the 2015 World Cup.
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 8 | 8 | 22 | 10.18 | 17.4 | 6/28 | 3.50 | 1 |
Most Wickets In World Cup 2019
Mitchell Starc grabbed the most wickets (27) in the 2019 World Cup. In that respective World Cup, he became the highest wicket-taker for the 2nd time in a row. Starc’s 27 wickets in 2019, is the record for the most wickets taken by any bowler in a single WC.
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 10 | 10 | 27 | 18.59 | 20.5 | 5/26 | 5.43 | 2 |
Most Wickets In World Cup 2023
Aussie leg-spinner, Adam Zampa claims the top spot on the elite list of most wickets in the World Cup 2023. He has taken 3 four-wicket hauls to date in this installment, at a dashing strike rate of 18.63 his tally reaches 19.
Most Wickets In World Cup For India
Former Indian paceman Zaheer Khan has taken the most number of wickets for India in the World Cup. Zaheer played 3 World Cups (2003-2011). Throughout his cricketing career, he was the leader of the Indian pace bowling attack. Khan was known for his accurate line, length, and outstanding swing bowling ability.
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-Wickets |
| 23 | 23 | 44 | 20.22 | 27.1 | 4/42 | 4.47 | 0 |
Most Wickets In World Cup In One Match
Glenn McGrath and Tim Southee have snapped the most number of wickets (7/15 & 7/33) in one match in the World Cup against Namibia in the 2003 WC and against England in the 2015 WC respectively.
List Of Top 10 Bowlers With Most Wickets In ODI World CUP
| Player | Mat | Inn | Wkts | AVG | SR | Best | 4-WKTS | 5-WKTS |
| G McGrath (AUS) | 39 | 39 | 71 | 18.19 | 27.5 | 7/15 | – | 02 |
| M Muralitharan (SL) | 40 | 39 | 68 | 19.63 | 30.3 | 4/19 | 04 | – |
| M Starc (AUS) | 28 | 28 | 65 | 19.29 | 22.44 | 6/28 | 03 | 03 |
| S Malinga (SL) | 29 | 28 | 56 | 22.87 | 24.8 | 6/38 | 02 | 01 |
| W Akram (PAK) | 38 | 36 | 55 | 23.83 | 35.4 | 5/28 | 02 | 01 |
| MD Shami (IND) | 18 | 18 | 55 | 13.52 | 15.81 | 7/57 | 04 | 04 |
| T Boult (NZ) | 29 | 29 | 53 | 25.54 | 31.13 | 5/27 | 03 | 01 |
| C Vaas (SL) | 31 | 31 | 49 | 21.22 | 32.00 | 6/25 | 01 | 01 |
| Z Khan (IND) | 23 | 23 | 44 | 20.22 | 27.1 | 4/42 | 01 | – |
| J Srinath (IND) | 34 | 33 | 44 | 27.81 | 38.6 | 4/20 | 02 | – |
| I Tahir (SA) | 22 | 21 | 40 | 21.17 | 28.7 | 5/45 | 04 | 01 |
| S Al Hasan (BAN) | 36 | 36 | 43 | 36.06 | 42.04 | 5/29 | 01 | 01 |
| A Donald (SA) | 25 | 25 | 38 | 24.02 | 34.55 | 4/17 | 02 | – |
| T Southee (NZ) | 22 | 22 | 41 | 27.07 | 28.58 | 7/33 | – | 01 |
| J Bumrah (IND) | 19 | 19 | 36 | 19.47 | 27.80 | 4/39 | 02 | – |
| J Oram (NZ) | 23 | 23 | 36 | 21.33 | 30.38 | 4/39 | 02 | – |
| D Vettori (NZ) | 32 | 31 | 36 | 32.44 | 46.91 | 4/18 | 02 | – |
| B Lee (AUS) | 17 | 17 | 35 | 17.97 | 23.57 | 5/42 | 02 | 01 |
Glenn McGrath has taken the most wickets in the 2011 World Cup (71 wickets in 39 matches).
Shahid Afridi & Zaheer Khan took the most wickets in the 2011 World Cup (21).
Glenn McGrath grabbed the most wickets in the 2007 World Cup (26 wickets in 11 matches)
Zaheer Khan has taken the most wickets in the 2023 World Cup, 23 wickets in 6 games.
Senior Cricket Content Editor at Skyblogs Cricket.
Contact me at info@skyblogs.in