The ODI World Cup is the biggest event in cricket. Every four years, the best players compete to bring glory to their nations. While batters often grab the headlines with centuries, it’s the bowlers who change the game with crucial breakthroughs.
The most wickets in ODI World Cup list celebrates those who delivered under pressure. From Glenn McGrath’s accuracy to Mitchell Starc’s thunderbolts, these bowlers proved that wickets win trophies.
You can also explore how batsmen have dominated the other side of the game by checking the Most Runs in ODI World Cup list — a perfect companion to this article.
The Cricket World Cup began in 1975 in England, played in a 60-over format. Over the decades, the game evolved — pitches became flatter, boundaries shorter, and rules more favourable to batters.
Still, bowlers continued to shine with swing, spin, and accuracy.
Every World Cup produced heroes who shaped their nation’s journey — whether it was Wasim Akram in 1992 or Mitchell Starc in 2015.
Here’s the complete list of top bowlers who have taken the most wickets in the ODI World Cup from 1975 to 2023.
Rank | Player | Wickets | Matches | Best Bowling |
1 | Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 71 | 39 | 7/15 |
2 | Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | 68 | 40 | 4/19 |
3 | Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 65 | 28 | 6/28 |
4 | Lasith Malinga (SL) | 56 | 29 | 6/38 |
5 | Mohammed Shami (IND) | 55 | 18 | 7/57 |
6 | Wasim Akram (PAK) | 55 | 38 | 5/28 |
7 | Trent Boult (NZ) | 52 | 29 | 5/27 |
8 | Chaminda Vaas (SL) | 49 | 31 | 6/25 |
9 | Zaheer Khan (IND) | 44 | 23 | 4/42 |
10 | Javagal Srinath (IND) | 44 | 34 | 4/30 |
Glenn McGrath remains the most consistent World Cup bowler ever. With 71 wickets in 39 matches, he built pressure through discipline rather than speed.
He played a crucial role in Australia’s dominance from 1999 to 2007, winning three consecutive titles. His 7/15 against Namibia in 2003 is still the best bowling figure in World Cup history.
His control and mindset make him one of the Best Bowlers in ODI Cricket overall — not just in World Cups.
Muralitharan took 68 wickets across five tournaments with his magical off-spin.
He could turn the ball on any surface and deceive batters with flight and drift.
His spells were key to Sri Lanka’s success in 1996, 2007, and 2011, helping the team reach two finals.
Even on flat pitches, Murali found ways to outsmart the best — a true legend of the game.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc is the face of modern fast bowling.
With 65 wickets in just 27 matches, he combines raw pace and swing like few others.
Starc’s performances in the 2015 World Cup earned him the Player of the Tournament award. In 2019, he broke the record for most wickets in a single World Cup (27).
His deadly yorkers and consistency make him one of the best pacers of this era.
Lasith Malinga took 56 wickets in World Cups and remains one of the most feared bowlers of all time.
His slinging action and perfect yorkers earned him multiple hat-tricks — two of them in World Cups, a record still unmatched.
Malinga’s memorable four wickets in four balls against South Africa in 2007 shocked everyone and showcased how a single over can change everything.
Mohammed Shami has been India’s strike weapon in the ODI World Cup, known for his deadly seam movement and control under pressure. Across multiple editions, he has taken 55 wickets, making him one of India’s top World Cup performers.
His unforgettable spell of 7/57 against New Zealand in the 2023 semifinal stands as the best-ever figures by an Indian in the tournament. Shami’s ability to swing the ball both ways and strike early has often turned matches in India’s favour.
Some single-match performances became unforgettable.
Here are the most destructive bowling figures ever recorded in ODI World Cup history.
Player | Figures | Opponent | Year |
Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 7/15 | Namibia | 2003 |
Andy Bichel (AUS) | 7/20 | England | 2003 |
Tim Southee (NZ) | 7/33 | England | 2015 |
Winston Davis (WI) | 7/51 | Australia | 1985 |
Mohammed Shami (IND) | 7/57 | New Zealand | 2023 |
Modern ODI cricket is heavily batter-friendly.
Shorter boundaries, two new balls, and power plays have made bowlers’ jobs tougher. Yet, the great ones still find ways to win.
Bowlers today rely more on cutters, slower bouncers, and variations.
Names like Jasprit Bumrah, Shaheen Afridi, and Trent Boult continue to carry the torch of fast bowling excellence.
The next addition to this list of most wickets in the ODI World Cup might already be in action today.
The most wickets in the ODI World Cup list represent more than just numbers.
It honours the players who thrived under pressure, turning games through skill and heart.
From McGrath’s accuracy to Starc’s aggression, these legends proved that bowlers define champions.
Each new World Cup brings new names, but the legacy of these greats remains unmatched.
To explore how batting legends made history too, don’t miss our article on the Fastest 10000 Runs in ODI — the perfect follow-up to this piece.
I’m Avijit Brahma, a cricket enthusiast who enjoys dissecting games, evaluating player performances, and offering my opinions on the sport. I’m here to share my thoughts, ideas, and everything about cricket, whether it’s a thrilling finish or a knock that breaks records. Let’s have a proper conversation about cricket!