ODI cricket came as a change in the game. The first ever ODI game was played between England and Australia on January 5, 1971, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Since then, this format has become a necessity for all countries. The ODI World Cup is considered the biggest trophy in this game.
This shows the value of this format. This game, on the other hand, has given the world some of the biggest names in both bowling and batting. In this article, we will cover the list of some of the greatest bowlers in the game.
List of Bowlers with Most Wickets in ODI cricket
| Bowler | Span | Mts | Wkts | BBI | Econ | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muthiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka) | 1993-2011 | 350 | 534 | 7/30 | 3.93 | 10 |
| Wasim Akram (Pakistan) | 1984-2003 | 356 | 502 | 5/15 | 3.89 | 6 |
| Waqar Younis (Pakistan) | 1989-2003 | 252 | 416 | 7/36 | 4.68 | 13 |
| Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) | 1994-2008 | 322 | 400 | 8/19 | 4.16 | 4 |
| Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 1996-2015 | 398 | 395 | 7/12 | 4.62 | 9 |
| Shaun Pollock (South Africa) | 1996-2008 | 303 | 393 | 6/35 | 3.67 | 5 |
| Glenn McGrath (Australia) | 1993-2007 | 250 | 381 | 7/15 | 3.88 | 7 |
| Brett Lee (Australia) | 2000-2012 | 221 | 380 | 5/22 | 4.76 | 9 |
| Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) | 2004-2019 | 226 | 338 | 6/38 | 5.35 | 8 |
| Anil Kumble (India) | 1990-2007 | 271 | 337 | 6/12 | 4.30 | 2 |
This article features the list of bowlers with the most wickets in the ODI format.
5. Shahid Afridi – 395 wickets in 398 ODIs
Former Pakistani skipper and one of the best white-ball all-rounder Shahid Afridi makes fifth on the list. Afridi came into international cricket with a reputation as a hard-hitting batter. However, over time, he became a reliable bowler. Afridi made his ODI debut in October 1998 against Australia. He played a total of 398 games, which is the most for Pakistan in this format. He has taken a total of 395 wickets with the best figure of 7/12 and made 8064 runs with six centuries and 39 half-centuries.
4. Chaminda Vaas – 400 wickets in 322 ODIs
Former Sri Lankan pacer who was known for his accuracy Chaminda Vaas made his debut in February 1994 against Sri Lanka at Rajkot. Vaas played 322 One-Day Internationals in his career, taking 400 wickets with a best bowling figure of 8/19. He also took four five-wicket hauls in his ODI career, which spanned 14 years. Vaas holds the record for the best bowling figure in an ODI game of 8/19, which came against Zimbabwe in December 2001.
3. Waqar Younis – 416 wicket in 262 ODIs
Legendary Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis ranks third on the list of all-time wicket takers in 50-over cricket. Younis made his ODI debut in October 1989 against the West Indies at Sharjah. He was considered one of the best pacers of his era in all formats. Younis played a total of 262 ODIs and took 416 at an average and economy rate of 23.84 and 4.68, respectively. He also took 13 5-wicket hauls in his ODI career.
2. Wasim Akram – 502 wickets in 356 ODIs
Former Pakistani skipper and the best pacer from Pakistan ever, Wasim Akram, makes number two on the list. Akram was a well-known name in the game’s history; he introduced the art of reverse-swing to the game. Akram made his ODI debut in November 1984 against New Zealand at Faisalabad. The former skipper played a total of 356 ODIs in his career and took 502 wickets at an economy rate of 3.89. He also took six 5-wicket hauls with a best figure of 5/15.
1. Muthiah Muralidaran – 534 wickets in 350 ODIs
There is only one bowler who holds the record for most wickets in international cricket, and that is former Sri Lankan spinner Muthiah Muralidaran. He made his ODI debut in August 1993 against India. Muralidaran played a total of 350 ODIs in his career and took a total of 534 wickets, the most ever by any bowler, with an economy rate of 3.93. He also took 10 five-wicket hauls (second most) in his career.