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

India are hosting the Men's Cricket World Cup solely for the first time. The tournament is taking 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.

In every edition of the ODI World Cup, one bowler emerges as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament and earns accolades. In the past editions of the ICC tournament, many bowlers showcased spectacular bowling performances. As fans are enjoying the 2023 World Cup in India, here at SportzPoint we look at the players who hold the record for scalping the most wickets in a single edition of this competition.

Also Read: ODI World Cup 2023: Angelo Mathews makes history as the inaugural batter to be TIMED OUT in International Cricket

Most Wickets in a single edition of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup  (Top Five)

5. Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 23 Wickets - 2007 World Cup

Muttiah Muralitharan is the 4th bowler in this list. The former Sri Lankan cricketer also scalped 23 wickets during the ICC ODI World Cup 2007 edition. The off-spinner registered those numbers in 10 matches. The right-arm spinner had a bowling average of 15.26.

Muralitharan bowled at an economy of 4.14, giving away only 351 runs in 84.4 overs during the tournament. He picked 2 four-wicket hauls in the tournament. His best bowling figure was 4/19, which he claimed against Ireland. Sri Lanka finished reached the final but Australia defeated them.

4. Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 23 Wickets - 2003 World Cup

Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas is in third place in this list. The left-arm pacer took 23 wickets during ODI World Cup 2003 edition. The Sri Lankan pacer registered those numbers in only 10 matches at an average of 14.39. Vaas bowled at an economy rate of 3.76, conceding only 331 runs in 88 overs.

He picked up 1 four-wicket haul and 1 five-wicket haul. Vaas picked 6 wickets for 25 runs in a match against Bangladesh, which was his best bowling figure in the competition. Sri Lanka reached the semi-finals but lost to Australia.

3. Mohammed Shami | India | 24 Wickets - 2023 World Cup

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami holds the 3rd spot in this list. The right-arm seamer scalped 24 wickets during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. He registered those numbers in just 7 matches, with an average of 10.70.

Shami had a bowling economy of 5.26 as he conceded only 257 runs in 48.5 overs. His best bowling figures in the tournament was 7/57, which he claimed in the Semi-Final match against New Zealand. However, Australia went on to defeat India in the Final, claiming their 6th World Cup title.

2. Glenn McGrath | Australia | 26 Wickets - 2007 World Cup

Legendary Australian pacer Glenn Mcgrath holds the 2nd spot in this list. The right-arm seamer scalped 26 wickets during the ICC ODI World Cup 2007. He registered those numbers in just 11 matches, with an average of 13.73.

McGrath had a bowling economy of 4.41 as he conceded only 357 runs in 80.5 overs. His best bowling figures in the tournament was 3/14, which he claimed in the opening match against Scotland. Australia went on to defeat Sri Lanka in the final, claiming their 4th World Cup title.

1. Mitchell Starc | Australia | 27 Wickets - 2019 World Cup

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc holds the record for scalping the most wickets in a single edition of the ODI World Cup. The Aussie pacer picked 27 wickets in just 10 matches at an average of 18.59 during the ICC ODI World Cup 2019. He bowled at an economy of 5.43, after giving away only 502 runs in 92.2 overs.

He picked 2 four-wicket hauls and 2 five-wicket hauls in the tournament. His best bowling figure of 5/26 came against New Zealand. But despite of Starc's impressive outing, Australia lost the semi-final to ultimate champions England.

In Test cricket, just as a batsman's century is considered important, similarly a bowler's 5 wicket haul is also seen as an achievement. In the second test match being played between Australia and India in Adelaide, the Indian Cricket Team was reduced to only 180 runs. For Australia, Mitchell Starc bowled strongly and took 6 wickets. This is Starc's best performance in an innings in Test. He took 6 wickets for 48 runs in 14.1 overs. Starc has taken five or more wickets against India for the first time in Test. With this, Starc moves to 15 five-wicket hauls in Tests, only behind legendary Wasim Akram. Let's take a look at the top 4 left-arm pacers with most five-wicket hauls.

Also Read: Most Wickets for India in Pink Ball Test

Most five-wicket hauls in Test | Top 4 left-arm pacers

1# Wasim Akram | 25

Wasim Akram, considered one of the greatest left-arm fast bowlers of all time, has the most five-wicket hauls amongst left-arm pacers in Tests. He took 25 five-wicket hauls in 181 innings of 104 Test matches for Pakistan. He was renowned for his swing and the 'Sultan of Swing' played Test cricket from 1985-2002 claiming 414 Test wickets.

2# Mitchell Starc | 15*

Star Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc surpassed former Australian pacer Alan Davidson in most five-wicket hauls amongst left-arm pacers in Tests. He took 15 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. Having played 91 games, he has picked a total of 367 wickets at an average of 27.53. 226 of his wickets have come at home at 26. Earlier this year, Starc became only the fifth Australian bowler to achieve 350 wickets in Test cricket. He joined an elite list that includes the legendary Shane Warne and Brett Lee.

3# Alan Davidson | 14

Australia’s Alan Davidson was magnificent between 1953 and 1963, with injuries unfortunately costing him more matches. In 44 Tests, the left-arm pace bowler took a brilliant 14 five-wicket hauls, part of his 186 wickets at an average of 20.53. He also scored 1,328 Test runs at an average of 24.59. Davidson starred in the 1960 tied Test against West Indies. He took 11 wickets (5/135 and 6/87) and was magnificent with the bat as well (44 and 80). A true superstar of the game.

4# Chaminda Vaas | 12

Chaminda Vaas, a former Sri Lankan cricketer and current fast bowling coach of the Sri Lankan team, took 12 five-wicket hauls and twice 10 wickets in a match. Vaas, who made his Test debut against Pakistan at Kandy in 1994, claimed 354 wickets at an average of 29.40. He has a total of 16 five-wicket hauls to his name, with twelve in Tests and four in ODIs. 

A stand at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata will soon be named after India's legendary fast bowler Jhulan Goswami. 

According to ICC, the Block B Gallery of Eden Gardens will be renamed in her honor. This stand will be inaugurated during the Indian women's team's first T20I match against England on January 22 next year.

Also Read: 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup stats: Most Wickets and Everything

Stands have also been built at Eden Gardens in the names of former Indian captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, former Indian cricketer Pankaj Roy, and former BCCI presidents Jagmohan Dalmiya and Biswanath Dutt.

Highest wicket-taker in women's ODI

Jhulan Goswami retired two years ago after an illustrious 20-year career with the Indian women's team. She was considered one of the best fast bowlers in women's cricket. Her career is still reflected in the impressive record that she maintains even after her retirement. Goswami holds the record for taking the highest number of wickets (255) in women's ODI.

Jhulan Goswami ended her career after appearing in 12 Tests, 204 ODIs and 68 T20Is and taking 355 wickets across all formats. In the women's Test format, Goswami has taken 44 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 17.36 and an economy of 2.02.

Goswami has 56 wickets to her name in the women's T20I format, with an average of 21.94 and an economy of 5.45. In the ODI format, she has taken 255 wickets in 204 matches at an average of 22.04.

Also Read: All the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup winners

Working as bowling coach of MI

The 41-year-old Goswami is currently working as the bowling coach and mentor of the Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League (WPL), which won the inaugural season of the league. Earlier this year, Goswami was the team mentor at the Women's Caribbean Premier League franchise Trinbago Knight Riders. 

After retirement, Goswami has worked as a mentor for the senior Bengal women's team and has also been involved in the Women's Premier League.

Matthew Wade, the Australian wicketkeeper batter, has announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday. However, he will join the men's team's coaching unit from the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan.

Matthew Wade career

Matthew Wade played 225 matches for Australia, featuring in 36 test matches, 97 one-day internationals, and 92 T20 internationals for Australia. He last played the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies in 2024.

Not only that, he played a crucial role in Australia's T20 World Cup victory in 2021 in Dubai.

Wade' Retirement

The 36-year-old Matthew Wade ended his 13-year long playing career.

"I'm officially retiring," Wade, who retired from first-class cricket last summer, was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "It's been an ongoing discussion for pretty much every tour or every World Cup that I've been on in the last three or four years.

"It's been a really fluent conversation that I've had with George (Bailey, chief selector) and Ronnie (coach Andrew McDonald) over the last six months or since the last World Cup finished. Even leading into the last World Cup, we've been really open and had really great communication around where I'm at with my career.

"If we went into the last World Cup and I managed to get some runs and we won that, then things would look maybe a little different and maybe I'd keep going... it was just kind of an understanding from all of us," Wade added.

36 Test matches. 97 ODIs. 92 T20 Internationals.

Congratulations to Matthew Wade on an outstanding international cricket career! pic.twitter.com/SDWl1OhqZC

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) October 29, 2024

Matthew Wade in coaching

Matthew Wade will kick off his coaching career with the national team from its upcoming outing in the T20 Series against Pakistan. He will travel under the leadership of Andre Borovec.

Later, the team will regroup for the ODI Series, which starts in Melbourne next week.

Wade, however, is not new to coaching. He has been in this role during the winter while coaching the Tasmanian youth and second XI.

Well, Wade will continue playing for his Big Bash League side, the Hobart Hurricanes, for at least the next two summers.

Also, he will continue playing for his domestic team, Tasmania.

Harshit Rana who was selected in India's senior team squad against Australia has early struggles with injuries.

On October 25, BCCI announced the squad for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which includes Harshit Rana's name. The 22-year-old fast bowler had earned the limelight after a stellar season in the 2024 Indian Premier League for KKR, is now tying his laces for the maiden call test call.

Earlier he toured with the senior team in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. He was a part of the team in the home series against Bangladesh. Not only that, he was on the reserved bench in the test series against New Zealand.

With the call against Australia, it's high time to count days for his debut in the whites anytime soon.

Harshit Rana faced injury before he was 20

Harshit Rana is on the cusp of a promising career as he gears up for India’s five-match Test tour of Australia. Despite a meteoric rise, Rana has faced considerable setbacks due to injuries. By the age of 20, he had already endured multiple stress fractures, sidelining him from the sport for extended periods.

Initially, it was his back, then it was his groin, then his calf and a niggle in the shoulder. His father Pradeep Rana informed that he took Harshit to many hospitals and even to an Ayurveda facility in Najafgarh. 

When playing cricket looked impossible, it was the inspiration Harshit drew from Navdeep Saini who bowled with his injured groin. Moreover, the 2020-21 Australia tour played a huge role in fuelling Harshit Rana's courage.

A bruised team battled to the winning position in the 2020-21 Australia tour. The injured duo Vihari and Ashwin who batted throughout ensuring a draw at Sydney, and Cheteswar Pujara who took 11 blows on his body at Gabba inspired him more than anyone can imagine.

Harshit Rana dedicates his maiden test call to his Father

Harshit Rana's Pradeep Rana, who once represented CRPF in hammer throw has never left his side. The senior Rana would pull him out of sleep at 4 am, to make him watch India playing in Australia on television.

His father made it a morning routine in winter, in Delhi for a six-year-old Harshit Rana. He even threw tantrums because he wanted to continue sleeping.

It was Pradeep Rana who knocked on all possible doors to keep his son fit for the game. He not only visited doctors but read articles, watched videos and tried applying everything to help his son play on the big stage.

In an interview with the Indian Express, Harshit said, "he told me that it was okay even if I don’t become a professional cricketer. Whatever I am today, it is because of my father.”

The Journey of Shedding 17 Kilograms

During the 2023-24 period, he suffered from a hamstring injury. As a result, he missed that entire session of the Ranji Trophy. 

From November 2023 to the pre-IPL period, he worked hard on his fitness shedding 17 kilograms. This significant weight loss not only improved his performance but also helped him remain injury-free for the next seven months, a crucial period leading to his maiden Test call-up.

Harshit credits the Indian team management for monitoring his workload as he focuses on playing across all formats—Tests, ODIs, and T20s. 

The Indian Men's Cricket Team have already lost their series to New Zealand after losing the first two tests. With that, India's home test series wins ended. However, India still tops the list with 18 home series wins.

The 18th win came against Bangladesh after a 2-0 whitewash against them.

Here's the list of the top five teams with the most consecutive Test series wins at home

India leads the chart with 18 series wins, followed by Australia twice in the list, having 10 wins each time. 

New Zealand | 8

New Zealand, standing 5th in the table, has 8 home series wins to their name. Starting from December 2017 to January 2021. The team led by Kane Williamson had a perfect combination with the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Ross Taylor, perfectly complementing the spin-friendly pitches, allowing the team to capitalize on the home advantage.

West Indies | 8

Once a terror in World Cricket, the time span of West Indian dominance in test cricket clearly defines the legacy of the team.

The Clive Lloyd-led team, having shoulders of greats like Viv Richards and bowling legend Malcolm Marshall, had its winning streak of 8 series at home from March 1976 to February 1986.

Australia | 10 each

Another ruling team in World Cricket that successfully carried forward their once-created legacy is Australia. Australia is in the chart twice, having 10 consecutive home series wins.

The first phase started from October 1994 to November 2000. A little gap in between, and then the winning streak continued from July 2004 to November 2008.

India | 18

After the Kanpur test win against Bangladesh, for the first time after 92 years of Test cricket history, India had more test wins than losses.

Not only that, India's series winning streak at home increased to 18, making it an undisputed contender amongst the world giants.