Most Wickets in a Single ODI World Cup: Who Will Take the Most Wickets in the 2023 ODI World Cup?

by Nitesh Mathur | Sep 25, 2023 | Article Index, ODI World Cup, Records

Who has taken the most wickets in a single ODI World Cup?

Let’s get to the facts right away!

Key Takeaways

• Mitchell Starc (27) and Glenn McGrath (26) have taken the most wickets in a single ODI Cricket World Cup in 2019 & 2007 respectively.
• Among the Top 17 most wicket takers in one CWC (Cricket World Cup), Mitchell Starc had an insane 2015 World Cup – 10.18 average, 17.40 strike rate, and 3.50 economy – the best stats in all departments.
• Shahid Afridi in 2011 took 5 wickets twice & 4 wickets twice as well, the most for any bowler. On the flip side, Glenn McGrath took 4-wickets or above zero times in his astonishing run to 26 wickets in 2007.
• Australians have featured as the top wicket-taker in an ODI World Cup on six out of the 12 occasions. Glenn McGrath & Mitchell Starc both appear twice.

Evolution of the Most Wickets in a Single World Cup (1975-2023)

• 1975: Gary Gilmour (Australia) – 11
• 1979: Mike Hendrick (England) – 10
• 1983: Roger Binny (India) – 18
• 1987: Craig McDermott (Australia) – 18
• 1992: Wasim Akram (Pakistan) – 18
• 1996: Anil Kumble (India) – 15
• 1999: Geoff Allott (New Zealand), Shane Warne (Australia) – 20
• 2003: Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) – 23
• 2007: Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 26
• 2011: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Zaheer Khan (India) – 21
• 2015: Mitchell Starc (Australia), Trent Boult (New Zealand) – 22
• 2019: Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 27

List of Top 17 Wicket Takers in a Single ODI World Cup

We filtered with a cut-off of 20 wickets in a single world cup. 17 bowlers have taken 20 or more wickets in a cricket world cup. Here is the complete list.

1. Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 27 Wickets, 2019 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 27
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 92.2 Overs (554 Balls)
• Average/SR: 18.59/20.51
• Economy: 5.43
• Best Figures: 5/26
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 2/2

2. Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 26 Wickets, 2007 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 11
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 80.5 Overs (485 Balls)
• Average/SR: 13.73/18.65
• Economy: 4.41
• Best Figures: 3/14
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 0/0

3. Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) – 23 Wickets, 2003 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 10
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 88.0 Overs (528 Balls)
• Average/SR: 14.39/22.95
• Economy: 3.76
• Best Figures: 6/25
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 1/1

4. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 23 Wickets, 2007 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 10
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 84.4 Overs (508 Balls)
• Average/SR: 15.26/22.08
• Economy: 4.14
• Best Figures: 4/19
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 2/0

5. Shaun Tait (Australia) – 23 Wickets, 2007 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 11
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 84.3 Overs (507 Balls)
• Average/SR: 20.30/22.04
• Economy: 5.52
• Best Figures: 4/39
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 1/0

6. Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 22 Wickets, 2015 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 8
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 63.5 Overs (383 Balls)
• Average/SR: 10.18/17.40
• Economy: 3.50
• Best Figures: 6/28
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 1/1

7. Trent Boult (New Zealand) – 22 Wickets, 2015 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 9
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 85.0 Overs (510 Balls)
• Average/SR: 16.86/23.18
• Economy: 4.36
• Best Figures: 5/27
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 1/1

8. Brett Lee (Australia) – 22 Wickets, 2003 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 10
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 83.1 Overs (499 Balls)
• Average/SR: 17.90/22.68
• Economy: 4.73
• Best Figures: 5/42
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 0/1

9. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 21 Wickets, 2011 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 8
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 74.3 Overs (447 Balls)
• Average/SR: 12.85/21.88
• Economy: 3.62
• Best Figures: 5/16
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 2/2

10. Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 21 Wickets, 2003 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 11
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 87.0 Overs (522 Balls)
• Average/SR: 14.76/24.85
• Economy: 3.56
• Best Figures: 7/15
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 0/1

11. Brad Hogg (Australia) – 21 Wickets, 2007 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 11
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 82.5 Overs (497 Balls)
• Average/SR: 15.80/23.66
• Economy: 4.00
• Best Figures: 4/27
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 2/0

12. Zaheer Khan (India) – 21 Wickets, 2011 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 9
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 81.3 Overs (489 Balls)
• Average/SR: 18.76/23.28
• Economy: 4.83
• Best Figures: 3/20
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 0/0

13. Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) – 21 Wickets, 2019 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 9
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 83.4 Overs (502 Balls)
• Average/SR: 19.47/23.90
• Economy: 4.88
• Best Figures: 4/37
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 1/0

14. Geoff Allott (New Zealand) – 20 Wickets, 1999 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 9
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 87.4 Overs (526 Balls)
• Average/SR: 16.25/26.30
• Economy: 3.70
• Best Figures: 4/37
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 2/0

15. Shane Warne (Australia) – 20 Wickets, 1999 ODI World Cup

• Innings:10
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 94.2 Overs (566 Balls)
• Average/SR: 18.05/28.30
• Economy: 3.82
• Best Figures: 4/29
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 2/0

16. Jofra Archer (England) – 20 Wickets, 2019 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 11
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 100.5 Overs (605 Balls)
• Average/SR: 23.05/30.25
• Economy: 4.57
• Best Figures: 3/27
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 0/0

17. Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) – 20 Wickets, 2019 ODI World Cup

• Innings: 8
• Overs/Balls Bowled: 72.1 Overs (433 Balls)
• Average/SR: 24.20/21.65
• Economy: 6.70
• Best Figures: 5/59
• 4/5 Wicket Hauls: 0/2

Honorable Mentions:

18 Wickets: Lasith Malinga (2007), Tim Southee (2011), Umesh Yadav (2015), Roger Binny (1983), Wasim Akram (1992), Craig McDermott -(1987), Glenn McGrath (1999), Jasprit Bumrah (2019), Zaheer Khan (2003), Mark Wood (2019)

Final Thoughts

Glenn McGrath & Mitchell Starc have become legends in the World Cup due to their bowling exploits.

Starc has a chance to become the undisputed leader of World Cup bowling in 2023, but will we find new faces this time around?

Also Read: Who Has Taken the Most Number of Wickets in the Cricket World Cup? | List of the Highest Wicket Takers in Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup (1975-2019)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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