Top 10 Players With Most Wickets In ODI

ODI cricket is the most played format in International cricket. This format has not been only for batsmen, we have seen many batsmen score over 10000 runs but still, it’s a bowler who makes the match interesting and turn it around completely. Let’s take a gaze at the bowlers who have dominated in One Day international cricket. Let’s discuss the top 10 players with the most wickets in ODI.

Muttiah Muralitharan

Like test cricket, Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in the history of ODI cricket. He represented Sri Lanka IN ODI cricket from 1993 to 2011. He was one of the toughest bowlers to play. Murali has taken 534 wickets in 350 ODIs for his nation. Having an impressive average of 23.08, he grabbed 10 fifers. Muttiah was also a part of the Srilankan team, which won the 1996 World Cup.

Wasim Akram

The best left-arm fast bowler of all time Wasim Akram has bagged the 2nd most wickets in the ODI format. He has played ODI cricket for 19 years (1984-2003) for Pakistan. He was known for his unplayable swing balls. Akram has caused problems for the best players in the world till his last day on the field. The Sultan of swing bagged the most number of wickets in the 1992 World Cup and helped Pakistan to win their first World Cup. Wasim Akram has scalped the highest 4-wicket hauls in the history of ODI cricket.

Waqar Younis 

The King of Reverse Swing, Waqar Younis acquires 3rd place in terms of taking the most wickets in ODIs. He hanged his boots from ODIs After torturing the batsmen for 14 years. In 262 matches, Waqar has grabbed 416 wickets, which is 2nd highest by a fast bowler in the format. The Pakistani legend averaged 23.94 with that ball and surpassed the mark of 5 wickets 13 times, which no other player has done yet.

Chaminda Vaas 

Chaminda Vaas the Srilankan fast bowler is the 4h highest wicket-taker (400) in the history of ODI cricket. The veteran bowler has played 12 years (1996-2008) of One Day cricket for Sri Lanka, he was known for his swings. History will always remember him as one of the great fast bowlers of ODI cricket. Vaas is one of the few bowlers to take more than 350 wickets in both test and ODI. Vaas’s 8/19 against Zimbabwe is the best bowling figure by a bowler in ODI cricket history.

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi holds the 5th position on the list of having the most ODI wickets. The bowling all-rounder has been around for 19 years (1996-2015). The leggie used to bowl a bit fast and was an outstanding googly bowler. Averaging 34.51, he scalped 395 wickets in 398 games. With the bat, Afridi amassed 8064 runs in 369 innings. Despite being the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup with the ball (21), Afridi couldn’t win the World Cup as India knocked Pakistan out in the semi-finals.

Shaun Pollock 

Shaun Pollock is the only South African on this list of bowlers with the most wickets in ODI cricket. His ODI career was of 12 years (1996-2008). Pollock used to bowl at 125-130 km/hr but his line, length, and swing made the batsman struggle.  Pollock exhibited to the world that you don’t need raw pace in order to thrive in international cricket. The 6.2 ft tall pacer got 393 wickets in 303 matches, which is the most by a Proteas bowler. Pollock has won only one ICC event, the 1998 Champions Trophy.

Glenn McGrath 

Glenn McGrath is the 7th highest wicket-taker in ODIs. He is regarded as one of the best fast bowlers the world has ever seen. McGrath is the highest wicket-taker in the ODIs for Australia also. His international career was of 14 long years (1993-2007). Scalping 381 wickets in 250 ODI matches, he had a bowling average of 22.02 (best by any bowler). Glenn Mcgrath is probably the only bowler to win three World cups (1999, 2003 & 2007). How good Macgrath was as a bowler, you will get to know after asking the best in the fraternity like Sachin, Lara, Inzamam, Jayawardene, Dravid, etc.

Brett Lee

Brett Lee is the second Australian bowler on the list. He has grabbed the 8th most wickets in the ODI format. He was one of the fastest bowlers in the world and choked the batsmen with his raw pace. He represented Australia for 12 years (2000-2012).  Lee has scared every batsman with his electrifying pace, Scalping 380 wickets in 221 matches, His bowling average of 23.26 says how frequently he would give a breakthrough to his team.

Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga has dominated white-ball cricket especially. He was known for his yorkers and slower deliveries. He has been playing for Sri Lanka since 2015. He is also the highest wicket-taker of Sri Lanka. With the slinger action, he could skittle through any batting lineup in the world. Maling is the only bowler in the globe to get 4 wickets in 4 balls in ODI, he accomplished the feat in the 2007 World Cup against South Africa.

Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble is the 10th-highest wicket-taker in the world in One Day internationals. He is also India’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs and tests. Anil has led the bowling attack for more than a decade. A fearless and skillful bowler, who can take wickets in any condition. He played 271 ODIs for India and bagged 337 wickets with a decent average of 30.89.

List Of The Top 10 Players With Most Wickets In ODIs

Player	Matches	Innings	Wickets	Average	Strike Rate	BBF	4-Wickets	5-Wickets
M Muralitharan (SL)	350	341	534	23.08	35.2	7/30	15	10
W Akram (PAK)	256	351	502	23.52	36.02	5/15	17	6
W Younis (PAK)	262	258	416	23.83	30.5	7/36	14	13
C Vaas (SL)	322	320	400	27.53	39.4	8/19	09	4
S Afridi (PAK)	398	372	395	34.51	44.7	7/12	04	9
S Pollock (SA)	303	297	392	24.50	39.9	6/35	12	5
G McGrath (AUS)	250	248	381	22.02	34.00	7/15	09	7
B Lee (AUS)	221	217	380	23.36	29.4	5/22	14	9
L Malinga (SL)	226	220	338	28.87	32.3	6/38	11	8
A Kumble (IND)	271	265	337	30.89	43.00	6/12	08	2
S Jayasuriya (SL)	445	368	323	36.75	46.00	6/29	08	4
S Al Hasan (BAN)	247	241	317	29.52	39.66	5/29	10	4
J Srinath (IND)	229	227	315	28.08	37.8	5/23	07	3
D Vettori (NZ)	295	277	305	31.71	46.09	5/7	08	2
S Warne (AUS)	194	191	293	25.73	36.32	5/33	12	1
S Mushtaq (PAK)	169	165	288	21.78	30.45	5/20	11	6