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Most Wickets in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup

Glenn McGrath holds the record for taking the most wickets in World Cup history. Let's see who are the other bowlers in the list.

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Abishek Goswami
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Most Wickets | Most Wickets in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup | Sportz Point

The 2023 ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup will be the 13th edition of the Cricket World Cup. The tournament will be hosted by India, beginning on 5 October and concluding on 19 November 2023. Ten national teams will participate; Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. England are the defending champions, having won the 2019 edition by defeating New Zealand in the final.

India will host the Men's Cricket World Cup solely for the first time. The tournament will take place in ten different stadiums. The first and second semi-finals will be held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and Eden Gardens in Kolkata respectively. At the same time, the final will take place at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. Bowlers play responsibly and often take huge and important wickets. Only a few bowlers have consistently performed at the highest level and picked up the most number of wickets. There have been numerous bowlers like Muthiah Muralidaran, Lasith Malinga, and Zaheer Khan who ruled the batsmen in their time. Some have accumulated over 50 wickets and recorded impressive five and six-wicket hauls. As fans brace themselves for the 2023 World Cup in India, here at SportzPoint we look at the players who hold the record for scalping the most wickets in the tournament's history.

Read Also: Most Runs in ICC Men's ODI World Cup

Most Wickets in ICC Men's ODI World Cup (Top 7)

Glenn McGrath

Australia's fearsome fast-bowler Glenn McGrath is the leading wicket-taker in the ICC World Cup. He was the key in Australia's consecutive World Cup wins in 1999, 2003, and 2007. McGrath had accuracy and consistency while bowling. His speed and economy were also fabulous, and his incredible record of 71 World Cup wickets in 39 innings is most likely to be never surpassed.

Muthiah Muralidaran

Sri Lanka's Muthiah Muralidaran has 68 wickets to his name in the World Cup in just 30 innings. A master of spin, Muralidaran is one of the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket and was part of the 1996 team that won the World Cup. He was known for his distinctive spin action and slick bowling.

Lasith Malinga

Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga took 56 wickets in just 28 innings in the World Cup, with the best figure of 6/38. Malinga was known for his unorthodox sling action and in-swinging yorkers. He also holds the record for most hat-tricks in the World Cup. He will always be one of Sri Lanka's best bowlers of all time.

Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram featured in five World Cups from 1987 to 2003. Akram became the first bowler to reach the 500-wicket mark in ODI cricket, during the 2003 World Cup. Akram famously took two key wickets in two balls in the 1992 World Cup final which turned the match in Pakistan's favour and delivered the trophy to them for the first time. He has picked up 55 wickets in just 38 WC matches.

Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc has shown his level at the World Cup over the period. In just 18 matches across 2015 and 2019, he has picked up 49 wickets. He was instrumental in Australia lifting the Trophy at home in 2015. Starc was even the Player of the Series in that edition for his 22 wickets at 10.18 and a strike rate of 17.4. He continued the trend at the 2019 World Cup and finished as the leading wicket-taker for the second time in succession.

Chaminda Vaas

Chaminda Vaas was the country's most prolific fast bowler. Vaas had his most successful tournament in 2003, helping his side reach the semi-finals, and taking 23 wickets at 14.39. In total, he has picked up 49 wickets in 31 matches at an eco of just 3.97 in the WC. He will always be one of Sri Lanka's best bowlers of all time.

Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan helped India make it to the finals of the 2003 World Cup. He finished the tournament as the fourth-highest wicket-taker, with 18 wickets from 11 matches. Khan was key to India reaching two World Cup finals, in 2003 and 2011, eventually winning the title in the latter one. Along with Oram, Khan has played at the least number of World Cup editions, and featured in only 23 matches, making his haul of 44 wickets at an economy of just 4.47.

Read Also: Most Runs in a calendar year in ODI Cricket History

Most Wickets: Most Wickets in the ODI World Cup history | Sportz Point
SportzPoint

Most Wickets in ICC Men's ODI World Cup (Top 15)

Player Span Mat Inns Mdns Wkts BBI Ave Econ 4 5
GD McGrath (AUS) 1996-2007 39 39 42 71 7/15 18.19 3.96 - 2
M Muralidaran (SL) 1996-2011 40 39 15 68 4/19 19.63 3.88 4 -
SL Malinga (SL) 2007-2019 29 28 11 56 6/38 22.87 5.51 2 1
Wasim Akram (PAK) 1987-2003 38 36 16 55 5/28 23.83 4.04 2 1
MA Starc (AUS) 2015-2019 18 18 8 49 6/28 14.81 4.64 3 3
WPUJC Vaas (SL) 1996-2007 31 31 39 49 6/25 21.22 3.97 1 1
Z Khan (IND) 2003-2011 23 23 12 44 4/42 20.22 4.47 1 -
J Srinath (IND) 1992-2003 34 33 21 44 4/30 27.81 4.32 2 -
Imran Tahir (SA) 2011-2019 22 21 7 40 5/45 21.17 4.41 4 1
TA Boult (NZ) 2015-2019 19 19 18 39 5/27 21.79 4.61 3 1
AA Donald (SA) 1992-2003 25 25 14 38 4/17 24.02 4.17 2 -
JDP Oram (NZ) 2003-2011 23 23 21 36 4/39 21.33 4.21 2 -
DL Vettori (NZ) 2003-2015 32 31 12 36 4/18 32.44 4.14 2 -
B Lee (AUS) 2003-2011 17 17 15 35 5/42 17.97 4.57 2 1
Wahab Riaz (PAK) 2011-2019 20 20 5 35 5/46 26.45 5.55 1 1
Icc Bcci Indian Cricket Team Icc Tournament Lasith Malinga Mitchell Starc Muttiah Muralitharan Glenn Mcgrath Wasim Akram Icc Cricket World Cup 2023
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