Top 10 Highest Wicket-Takers in ODI World Cup History

The ICC Men’s ODI World Cup has seen some of the best bowling performances. Explosive batting often grabs the headlines. It is the bowlers who change the course of a match. Over the years, many players’ bowlers have left their mark on the tournament.

Here is a look at the bowlers who have taken the most wickets in the history of the ODI World Cup.

Note: Due to the total number of wickets, 11 players are included in the top 10 positions.

Player	Country	Span	Innings	Wickets
Glenn McGrath	Australia	1996-2007	39	71
Muttiah Muralitharan	Sri Lanka	1996-2011	39	68
Mitchell Starc	Australia	2015-2023	28	65
Lasith Malinga	Sri Lanka	2007-2019	28	56
Wasim Akram	Pakistan	1987-2003	36	55
Mohammed Shami	India	2015-2023	18	55
Trent Boult	New Zealand	2015-2023	29	53
Chaminda Vaas	Sri Lanka	1996-2007	31	49
Zaheer Khan	India	2003-2011	23	44
Javagal Srinath	India	1992-2003	33	44
Imran Tahir	South Africa	2011-2019	21	40

Legendary Bowlers Who Dominated the World Cup

Glenn McGrath is at the top with 71 wickets in 39 innings. The Australian fast bowler gained fame for his accuracy, consistency and ability to perform in important matches, which helped the team win the World Cup.

He is followed by Muttiah Muralitharan, who took 68 wickets and proved to be the best spin bowler in the game of cricket.

Mitchell Starc is one of the best World Cup bowlers of the modern era. He has taken 65 wickets in just 28 innings and has the best strike rate among the top wicket-takers.

Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga has taken 56 wickets with his distinctive sling bowling action and yorkers, while Pakistan’s Wasim Akram has taken 55 wickets in five World Cups.

India’s Mohammed Shami has also taken a similar number of wickets (55), but in just 18 innings of the World Cup.

New Zealand’s Trent Boult is second with 53 wickets, having enjoyed consistent opening success with the new ball. Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas is second with 49 wickets, thanks to his disciplined swing bowling.

India’s pacers Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath are ninth with 44 wickets each. Both have led India’s bowling attack during different eras. They have had some memorable World Cup performances.

South Africa’s Imran Tahir is second on the list. He took 40 wickets in three World Cup editions with his aggressive leg-spin.

What makes these bowlers special?

These bowlers performed in different situations, generations and batting eras. Be it McGrath’s accurate bowling, Muralitharan’s magic of spin, Starc’s fast bowling or Malinga’s deadly yorker, each one had something special that allowed them to contribute to their team at crucial times.

Taking wickets in a World Cup tournament is very difficult due to the level of the opposition team and the pressure of knockout matches.

Conclusion

The list of bowlers who have taken the most wickets in the history of the ODI World Cup includes some of the best bowlers in the game. Glenn McGrath holds the record, while active players like Mitchell Starc and Mohammed Shami have already established themselves as the tournament’s greatest bowlers.

Fans are eager to know if this record will be broken in future World Cups. For other cricket records and statistics, visit Cricbites.

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