Cricket is often believed to be the game of batsmen and the role of bowlers has always been ignored as compared to batters. But the time and thinking have changed and everyone has realized the importance of them no matter if it is ODI, T20, or Test. Let’s have a closer look at some of the bowlers who made the best bowling figure in ODI:
Chaminda Vaas (8 Wickets for 19)
Chaminda Vaas, the former left-arm medium-pacer of the Sri Lanka cricket team, is in the top position for making the best bowling figure in ODI. On 8 Dec 2001, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe stood against each other at Colombo (SSC) where Chaminda Vaas showed an incredible effort with the ball and took 8 wickets of Zimbabwe and stopped them at 38 runs only. Sri Lanka, in reply, achieved the target very easily. Chaminda Vaas made his ODI debut in the match against India at Rajkot on 15 February 1994. He appeared in 322 ODI matches and took 400 wickets for his team.
Shahid Afridi (7 Wickets for 12)
Shahid Afridi, the former leg break bowler of Pakistan, is sitting at the number 2 position for having the best ODI bowling figures. In 2013, when Pakistan visited West Indies then it was 1 ODI with West Indies where Pakistan batted first and set a target of 225 for West Indies but the Windies squad could not handle Afridi’s spin attack and bowled out at 98 runs only. Afridi took 7 important wickets of the West Indies in that match for which he was named Man of the Match. Afridi started his ODI career from the match against Kenya at Nairobi (Aga) on October 02, 1996, since then he played 398 ODI and took 395 wickets.
Glenn McGrath (7 Wickets for 15)
The Australian right-arm medium pacer, Glenn McGrath, stands at the number 3 position for getting the best bowling figure in ODI. He took 7 important wickets against Namibia at Potchefstroom on 27 Feb 2003. Australia batted first and made 301 runs, on the other hand, Namibia was bowled out at 45 runs only, Glenn McGrath was named Man of the Match for his awesome bowling effort. He made his ODI debut in the match against South Africa at Melbourne on December 09, 1993, since then he appeared in 250 ODI matches and took 381 wickets.
Rashid Khan (7 Wickets for 18)
Rashid Khan, the leg-break spinner of the Afghanistan team, one of the most dominant spinners in the cricketing world, is currently listed at the number 4th position for making the best bowling figure in ODI matches. He took 7 wickets and gave only 18 runs against West Indies at Gros Islet on 9 Jun 2017. In the year 2017, Afghanistan went to the West Indies where they faced each other in an ODI match in which Afghani batters set a target of 213 for the Windes but they could not stay longer in front of Rashid Khan’s spin attack and bowled out at 149. Rashid Khan was named Man of the Match. He started his ODI career against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on October 18, 2015, and he has played 80 ODI matches and taken 151 wickets which is incredible.
Andy Bichel (7 Wickets for 20)
Andy Bichel, the former right-arm pacer of the Australia team, is placed at the number 5th position for the best bowling figure in ODI. In the 37th match of the ICC World Cup 2003, Australia faced England where Bichel bowled superbly and stopped England at 204 by taking 7 wickets. In reply, Australia achieved the target and won the match by 2 wickets, Bichel played a vital role in the victory and that’s why he was named Man of the Match. He made his ODI debut for Australia against West Indies at Brisbane on January 05, 1997, and took 78 wickets in his ODI career.
List of the Best Bowling Figures in ODI
| Player | Wickets | Runs | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminda Vaas | 8 | 19 | Zimbabwe | Colombo (SSC) | 8 Dec 2001 |
| Shahid Afridi | 7 | 12 | West Indies | Providence | 14 Jul 2013 |
| Glenn McGrath | 7 | 15 | Namibia | Potchefstroom | 27 Feb 2003 |
| Rashid Khan | 7 | 18 | West Indies | Gros Islet | 9 Jun 2017 |
| Andy Bichel | 7 | 20 | England | Port Elizabeth | 2 Mar 2003 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 7 | 30 | India | Sharjah | 27 Oct 2000 |
| Tim Southee | 7 | 33 | England | Wellington | 20 Feb 2015 |
| Trent Boult | 7 | 34 | West Indies | Christchurch | 23 Dec 2017 |
| Waqar Younis | 7 | 36 | England | Leeds | 17 Jun 2001 |
| Aaqib Javed | 7 | 37 | India | Sharjah | 25 Oct 1991 |