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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
