Top 5 bowlers with most wickets in the history of ODI World Cup
Check here for the list of the bowlers with the most wickets in the history of the ODI World Cup.
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Glenn McGrath (Image via ESPNcricinfo)
Since the inception of the ODI World Cup, there have been several bowlers who terrorized the batters with their sheer speed, variations, or when they spin a web around the opposition. The 50-over format gives a bowler time to display what they are capable of, unlike in the T20 format and also allows them to compensate for their mistakes.
The ODI World Cup is held every four years. And though the tournament is generally overshadowed by the batters, the bowlers have often produced some menacing spells that not only restricted the opponents to some paltry scores but captivated the fans with their economical bowling. So take a look at the highest wicket-takers in the history of the Cricket World Cup.
List of 10 bowlers with most wickets in the history of the ODI World Cup:
| Sr. no | Name | Wickets |
| 1 | Glenn McGrath | 71 |
| 2 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 68 |
| 3 | Mitchell Starc | 61 |
| 4 | Lasith Malinga | 56 |
| 5 | Wasim Akram | 55 |
| 6 | Mohammed Shami | 54 |
| 7 | Trent Boult | 53 |
| 8 | Chaminda Vaas | 49 |
| 9 | Zaheer Khan | 44 |
| 10 | Javagal Srinath | 44 |
Top 5 bowlers with most wickets in the history of the ODI World Cup
Wasim Akram
The Pakistani great picked up 55 wickets from 38 matches. He was part of the Imran Khan-led side in 1992 that won the World Cup by beating England. He also led the Men in Green to the finals of the 1999 World Cup.
Lasith Malinga
Malinga, who wreaked havoc with his unorthodox action, played 29 matches in the World Cup and picked up 56 wickets at an economy rate of 5.51. He is the only bowler in the world to have bagged two World Cup hat-tricks. Malinga also represented the side that ended up as runners-up in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups.
Mitchell Starc
From 27 matches, the Aussie speedster picked up 62 wickets, at an economy rate of 5.14. In 2015, he emerged as the highest wicket-taker, with 22 wickets from eight matches. He was instrumental in helping the Aussies clinch their fifth title on home soil that year.
Muttiah Muralitharan
Another Sri Lankan, Muttiah Muralitharan, has bagged the most wickets in international cricket. Out of these wickets, 68 came in ODI World Cups from 40 matches at an economy rate of 3.88. His best bowling figures were a 4/19. He was part of the Sri Lankan team that won the 1996 World Cup, their only successful campaign in the quadrennial tournament so far.
Glenn McGrath
The Aussie legend who was known throughout his career for maintaining his line and length, bagged 71 wickets from 39 matches with his best figures of 7/15 and an economy rate of 3.96. He was one of the leading contributors behind Australia’s domination of world cricket during his playing days and was part of the team that won three consecutive World Cups– in 1999, 2003, and 2007. The 2007 World Cup marked the end of his ODI career.
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Gouri Das
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