Top 5 bowlers with most wickets in ODI history

In any format of the game, bowlers play as important a role as the batsmen in helping the team win a game. Many times when the batsmen of the side fail to contribute big, bowlers have performed well to bring the team back in the match. In this article, we will be listing five bowlers who have taken the most wickets in the ODI format. One thing is to be noted is that bowlers don’t have that much longevity in their playing career as batsmen. This has much to do with the high fitness required by them and particularly the fast bowlers face this situation.

5. Shahid Afridi – 395

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi is regarded among the most impactful players in International cricket history. He played 398 ODIs in his career and picked up 395 wickets in total. Apart from this, he also scored more than 8000 runs in the 50-over format at a strike rate of 117. He picked four 5-wicket hauls, and nine 4-wicket hauls in his ODI career. His best bowling figures of 7/12 came against West Indies in 2013.

4. Chaminda Vaas – 400

Former Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas is the only fast-bowler to take 400 wickets from his country in ODIs. He took these wickets while playing 322 matches in the format with a career span ranging from 1994 to 2008. He also holds the record for best bowling figures (8/19) in an ODI match which he achieved against Zimbabwe in 2001.

3. Waqar Younis – 416

Former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis stands at the third spot in terms of most scalps in ODIs. He picked up 416 wickets in 262 matches played in the format at an average of 23.84 and a strike rate of 30.5. His economy rate in the format was 4.68 while his best bowling figures were 7/36. Waqar played these matches in a career span of around 14 years ranging from 1989 to 2003.

2. Wasim Akram – 502

Wasim Akram is the only pacer in ODI history to reach the landmark of 500 wickets. He took 502 wickets in 351 ODIs at an average of 23.52 and a strike rate of 36.2. He played ODI cricket for Pakistan for almost 20 years from 1984 to 2003. He picked up 6 fifers and 17 four-wicket hauls in his ODI career.

1. Muttiah Muralitharan – 534

Former Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan holds the world record for picking up the most wickets in the one-day format. He took 534 wickets in 350 ODIs at an average of 23.08 and strike rate of 35.2. He also picked up ten fifers and 15 four-wicket hauls in his career. The spinner registered his best bowling figures of 7/30 against India in 2000.

Most ODI Wickets List