Most Wickets in ODI Cricket: Top 10 Bowlers of All Time (2026 Updated List), Stats, Records & Best Bowling Figures
The all-time list of ODI wicket-takers with matches, averages, best figures, records and India’s leading bowlers.
Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for the most wickets in ODI cricket, with 534 wickets in 350 matches for Sri Lanka and Asia XI between 1993 and 2011. Pakistan’s Wasim Akram ranks second with 502 wickets, followed by Waqar Younis with 416. As of November 2026, only two bowlers have taken 500 or more wickets in men’s One Day International cricket.
One Day International cricket has produced some of the greatest bowlers in history.
From Wasim Akram’s deadly swing bowling to Muttiah Muralitharan’s magical spin, several legendary players have dominated the 50-over format.
But taking hundreds of wickets in ODI cricket isn’t easy.
Bowlers must perform consistently across different pitches, countries and match situations. They also need to adapt to aggressive batting and changing cricket rules.
Some bowlers become famous for their pace, while others rely on spin, accuracy and clever variations.
So, who has taken the most wickets in ODI cricket?
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 highest wicket-takers in ODI history, including their matches, wickets, bowling averages, best figures, career records and major achievements.
We’ll also look at India’s leading ODI wicket-takers and some of the greatest bowling performances in the format.
Last updated: 4 November 2026
Who Has Taken the Most Wickets in ODI Cricket?
Muttiah Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in men’s ODI cricket history.
The legendary Sri Lankan off-spinner took 534 wickets in 350 matches.
He played ODI cricket from 1993 to 2011 and was an important member of Sri Lanka’s bowling attack for nearly two decades.
Wasim Akram follows him with 502 wickets, while Waqar Younis occupies third place with 416 wickets.
Most Wickets in ODI Cricket: Quick Facts
| Record | Player | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Most ODI wickets | Muttiah Muralitharan | 534 |
| Second-most wickets | Wasim Akram | 502 |
| Third-most wickets | Waqar Younis | 416 |
| First to 500 ODI wickets | Wasim Akram | 2003 |
| Best ODI bowling figures | Chaminda Vaas | 8/19 |
| Most ODI five-wicket hauls | Waqar Younis | 13 |
| Most ODI wickets by an Indian | Anil Kumble | 337 |
| Most ODI wickets by an Australian | Glenn McGrath | 381 |
These records show how important consistency and longevity are in international cricket.
Top 10 Bowlers With the Most Wickets in ODI Cricket
Here is the complete list of the 10 highest wicket-takers in men’s ODI history.
Most ODI Wickets: All-Time Top 10 List (2026)
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Wickets | Average | Best bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 350 | 534 | 23.08 | 7/30 |
| 2 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 356 | 502 | 23.52 | 5/15 |
| 3 | Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 262 | 416 | 23.84 | 7/36 |
| 4 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 322 | 400 | 27.53 | 8/19 |
| 5 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 398 | 395 | 34.51 | 7/12 |
| 6 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 303 | 393 | 24.50 | 6/35 |
| 7 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 250 | 381 | 22.02 | 7/15 |
| 8 | Brett Lee | Australia | 221 | 380 | 23.36 | 5/22 |
| 9 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 226 | 338 | 28.87 | 6/38 |
| 10 | Anil Kumble | India | 271 | 337 | 30.89 | 6/12 |
Note: These are men’s ODI career statistics, including recognised matches for representative teams such as Asia XI and ICC World XI where applicable. All 10 players have retired from international cricket.
Let’s explore each bowler’s career and achievements.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan – 534 ODI Wickets (Sri Lanka)
Country: Sri LankaODI career: 1993–2011
Muttiah Muralitharan is the greatest ODI wicket-taker of all time in terms of total wickets.
The Sri Lankan spin legend took 534 wickets in 350 matches.
His unusual bowling action, exceptional control and ability to turn the ball made him one of the most difficult bowlers to face.
Muralitharan was especially dangerous during the middle overs, when he could slow down the scoring rate and take important wickets.
Muttiah Muralitharan ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 350 |
| Wickets | 534 |
| Bowling average | 23.08 |
| Economy rate | 3.93 |
| Best bowling | 7/30 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 10 |
| Career span | 1993–2011 |
Major Achievements
Muralitharan holds the record for the most wickets in ODI cricket.
He was part of Sri Lanka’s 1996 ODI World Cup-winning team.
He also holds the record for the most wickets in Test cricket, with 800.
His combined international wicket tally across Tests, ODIs and T20Is stands at 1,347.
With 534 ODI wickets, Muralitharan remains the benchmark for future generations of spin bowlers.
2. Wasim Akram – 502 ODI Wickets (Pakistan)
Country: PakistanODI career: 1984–2003
Wasim Akram is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history.
Known as the Sultan of Swing, he could move the ball in both directions at high speed.
His reverse swing and accurate yorkers made him particularly dangerous during the final overs.
Akram was the first bowler to reach 500 wickets in ODI cricket.
Wasim Akram ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 356 |
| Wickets | 502 |
| Bowling average | 23.52 |
| Economy rate | 3.89 |
| Best bowling | 5/15 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 6 |
| Career span | 1984–2003 |
Major Achievements
Wasim Akram was a key member of Pakistan’s 1992 ODI World Cup-winning team.
He delivered an outstanding bowling performance in the final against England.
His ability to take wickets with both the new and old ball helped Pakistan win many important matches.
He remains Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket.
3. Waqar Younis – 416 ODI Wickets (Pakistan)
Country: PakistanODI career: 1989–2003
Waqar Younis was famous for his express pace and devastating reverse-swing yorkers.
He formed one of cricket’s most feared fast-bowling partnerships with Wasim Akram.
Waqar regularly attacked the stumps and was particularly effective against lower-order batters.
He finished his ODI career with 416 wickets in just 262 matches.
Waqar Younis ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 262 |
| Wickets | 416 |
| Bowling average | 23.84 |
| Economy rate | 4.68 |
| Best bowling | 7/36 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 13 |
| Career span | 1989–2003 |
Major Achievements
Waqar holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls in men’s ODI cricket, with 13.
His bowling strike rate of approximately 30.5 balls per wicket was exceptional.
He was known for taking wickets in quick succession and destroying batting line-ups with late swing.
His 416 ODI wickets place him third on the all-time list.
4. Chaminda Vaas – 400 ODI Wickets (Sri Lanka)
Country: Sri LankaODI career: 1994–2008
Chaminda Vaas was one of Sri Lanka’s most reliable fast bowlers.
Unlike bowlers who depended on extreme pace, Vaas used accuracy, swing and intelligent variations.
He was especially effective with the new ball.
Vaas finished his ODI career with exactly 400 wickets.
Chaminda Vaas ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 322 |
| Wickets | 400 |
| Bowling average | 27.53 |
| Economy rate | 4.18 |
| Best bowling | 8/19 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 4 |
| Career span | 1994–2008 |
Chaminda Vaas 8/19: Best Bowling Figures in ODI History
On 8 December 2001, Chaminda Vaas took eight wickets for just 19 runs against Zimbabwe in Colombo.
His remarkable performance helped dismiss Zimbabwe for only 38 runs.
These remain the best bowling figures in men’s ODI cricket history.
Vaas also took a hat-trick with the first three balls of Sri Lanka’s 2003 World Cup match against Bangladesh.
His consistency made him one of Sri Lanka’s most important bowlers.
5. Shahid Afridi – 395 ODI Wickets (Pakistan)
Country: PakistanODI career: 1996–2015
Shahid Afridi was one of cricket’s most entertaining all-rounders.
Although he became famous for aggressive batting, his leg-spin bowling was equally valuable.
Afridi could bowl quick leg-breaks, googlies and flatter deliveries.
He regularly took wickets during the middle overs.
Shahid Afridi ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 398 |
| Wickets | 395 |
| Bowling average | 34.51 |
| Economy rate | 4.62 |
| Best bowling | 7/12 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 9 |
| Career span | 1996–2015 |
Major Achievements
Afridi took 395 ODI wickets and scored more than 8,000 runs.
His best bowling figures of 7/12 came against West Indies in 2013.
He was one of the few players who could change a match with both bat and ball.
Afridi ranks fifth among the highest wicket-takers in ODI history.
6. Shaun Pollock – 393 ODI Wickets (South Africa)
Country: South AfricaODI career: 1996–2008
Shaun Pollock was one of the most accurate fast bowlers in ODI cricket.
He was known for maintaining a consistent line and length.
Pollock rarely gave batters easy scoring opportunities.
His ability to control the run rate made him extremely valuable to South Africa.
Shaun Pollock ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 303 |
| Wickets | 393 |
| Bowling average | 24.50 |
| Economy rate | 3.67 |
| Best bowling | 6/35 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 5 |
| Career span | 1996–2008 |
Major Achievements
Pollock took 393 ODI wickets during his career.
His economy rate of 3.67 was particularly impressive.
He also contributed valuable runs as a lower-order batter.
Pollock remains South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in men’s ODI cricket.
7. Glenn McGrath – 381 ODI Wickets (Australia)
Country: AustraliaODI career: 1993–2007
Glenn McGrath was one of the most successful fast bowlers of his generation.
He was famous for accuracy, bounce and the ability to exploit a batter’s weaknesses.
McGrath rarely relied on complicated variations.
Instead, he repeatedly bowled in difficult areas and forced batters into mistakes.
Glenn McGrath ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 250 |
| Wickets | 381 |
| Bowling average | 22.02 |
| Economy rate | 3.88 |
| Best bowling | 7/15 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 7 |
| Career span | 1993–2007 |
Major Achievements
McGrath was part of Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning teams in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
He took 26 wickets in the 2007 ODI World Cup and was named Player of the Tournament.
He also holds the record for the most wickets in men’s ODI World Cup history, with 71.
His bowling average of 22.02 is the lowest among the bowlers in this top-10 list.
8. Brett Lee – 380 ODI Wickets (Australia)
Country: AustraliaODI career: 2000–2012
Brett Lee was one of the fastest bowlers of his era.
He regularly delivered balls at speeds above 150 km/h.
His aggressive bowling, sharp bouncers and accurate yorkers made him a dangerous opponent.
Lee took 380 wickets in just 221 ODI matches.
Brett Lee ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 221 |
| Wickets | 380 |
| Bowling average | 23.36 |
| Economy rate | 4.76 |
| Best bowling | 5/22 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 9 |
| Career span | 2000–2012 |
Major Achievements
Brett Lee was part of Australia’s 2003 ODI World Cup-winning squad.
He was known for taking early wickets and attacking batters with pace.
His bowling strike rate of approximately 29.4 balls per wicket was excellent.
Lee finished his ODI career just one wicket behind Glenn McGrath.
9. Lasith Malinga – 338 ODI Wickets (Sri Lanka)
Country: Sri LankaODI career: 2004–2019
Lasith Malinga was one of the most unusual and effective fast bowlers in ODI history.
His distinctive sling-arm action made it difficult for batters to read the ball.
He was particularly famous for yorkers and slower deliveries.
Malinga became one of the world’s best death-over bowlers.
Lasith Malinga ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 226 |
| Wickets | 338 |
| Bowling average | 28.87 |
| Economy rate | 5.35 |
| Best bowling | 6/38 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 8 |
| Career span | 2004–2019 |
Major Achievements
Malinga is the only bowler to take three hat-tricks in men’s ODI cricket.
During the 2007 World Cup against South Africa, he took four wickets in four consecutive deliveries.
His unusual action and accurate yorkers made him a major threat in limited-overs cricket.
Malinga finished with 338 ODI wickets.
10. Anil Kumble – 337 ODI Wickets (India)
Country: IndiaODI career: 1990–2007
Anil Kumble is India’s highest wicket-taker in men’s ODI cricket.
The legendary leg-spinner took 337 wickets in 271 matches.
Kumble was known for his accuracy, bounce and ability to bowl quickly through the air.
Unlike traditional leg-spinners, he often relied on subtle variations rather than enormous turn.
Anil Kumble ODI Stats
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 271 |
| Wickets | 337 |
| Bowling average | 30.89 |
| Economy rate | 4.30 |
| Best bowling | 6/12 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 2 |
| Career span | 1990–2007 |
Major Achievements
Kumble took 337 ODI wickets and 619 Test wickets.
His best ODI bowling figures of 6/12 came against West Indies in the 1993 Hero Cup final at Eden Gardens.
He remains one of India’s greatest spin bowlers.
Kumble is the only Indian in the all-time top 10 ODI wicket-takers list.
Most ODI Wickets by Country
The all-time top 10 features bowlers from five countries.
Country-Wise Representation
| Country | Bowlers in top 10 | Combined wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 1,272 |
| Pakistan | 3 | 1,313 |
| Australia | 2 | 761 |
| South Africa | 1 | 393 |
| India | 1 | 337 |
Pakistan has the highest combined wicket tally among the countries represented in this list.
Sri Lanka also has three players, including the all-time leader Muttiah Muralitharan.
Most ODI Wickets by Indian Bowlers
India has produced several outstanding ODI bowlers.
Anil Kumble leads the country’s all-time ODI wicket-taking list with 337 wickets.
Top Indian ODI Wicket-Takers
| Rank | Player | ODI wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anil Kumble | 337 |
| 2 | Javagal Srinath | 315 |
| 3 | Ajit Agarkar | 288 |
| 4 | Zaheer Khan | 282 |
| 5 | Harbhajan Singh | 269 |
These five bowlers played important roles in India’s ODI history.
Kumble and Harbhajan were successful spin bowlers, while Srinath, Agarkar and Zaheer contributed with pace and swing.
Fast Bowlers vs Spin Bowlers: Who Has More ODI Wickets?
Both fast bowlers and spinners have dominated ODI cricket.
Among the top 10 wicket-takers, fast bowlers have a clear advantage in representation.
Top 10 ODI Bowlers by Bowling Type
| Bowling type | Players | Combined wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Fast / medium-fast | 7 | 2,810 |
| Spin | 3 | 1,266 |
The fast bowlers are Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Chaminda Vaas, Shaun Pollock, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Lasith Malinga.
The spin bowlers are Muttiah Muralitharan, Shahid Afridi and Anil Kumble.
This shows that pace bowlers dominate the all-time top 10 by total wickets, although Muralitharan holds the overall record.
Who Has the Best Bowling Average Among the Top 10 ODI Wicket-Takers?
Bowling average measures how many runs a bowler concedes for each wicket.
A lower average generally indicates greater wicket-taking efficiency.
Among the top 10 ODI wicket-takers, Glenn McGrath has the best bowling average.
Best ODI Bowling Averages Among the Top 10
| Player | Bowling average |
|---|---|
| Glenn McGrath | 22.02 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 23.08 |
| Brett Lee | 23.36 |
| Wasim Akram | 23.52 |
| Waqar Younis | 23.84 |
McGrath’s average of 22.02 highlights his outstanding consistency.
He took wickets regularly while keeping the scoring rate under control.
Best Bowling Figures in ODI Cricket History
Taking five wickets in an ODI innings is considered an excellent achievement.
However, a few bowlers have produced even more extraordinary performances.
Best Bowling Figures in Men’s ODIs
| Rank | Player | Figures | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaminda Vaas | 8/19 | Zimbabwe | 2001 |
| 2 | Shahid Afridi | 7/12 | West Indies | 2013 |
| 3 | Glenn McGrath | 7/15 | Namibia | 2003 |
| 4 | Rashid Khan | 7/18 | West Indies | 2017 |
| 5 | Andy Bichel | 7/20 | England | 2003 |
Chaminda Vaas remains the only bowler to take eight wickets in a men’s ODI innings.
His 8/19 against Zimbabwe is one of cricket’s most remarkable bowling performances.
Who Has Taken the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Cricket?
Waqar Younis holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls in men’s ODI cricket.
He took five or more wickets in an innings on 13 occasions.
Most ODI Five-Wicket Hauls
| Player | Five-wicket hauls |
|---|---|
| Waqar Younis | 13 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 10 |
| Brett Lee | 9 |
| Shahid Afridi | 9 |
| Lasith Malinga | 8 |
Taking multiple five-wicket hauls requires both wicket-taking ability and consistency.
Waqar’s record highlights his extraordinary impact as an attacking fast bowler.
Why Is Muttiah Muralitharan’s ODI Wicket Record So Difficult to Break?
Muralitharan’s record of 534 wickets has stood since his retirement in 2011.
There are several reasons why breaking it is difficult.
1. Fewer ODIs for Many Players
Modern international schedules include Tests, ODIs, T20Is and franchise tournaments.
Many players no longer play as many ODI matches as previous generations.
2. Workload Management
Fast bowlers especially need regular rest to reduce injury risks.
This can limit their opportunities to accumulate wickets.
3. More Aggressive Batting
Modern ODI batters often attack bowlers throughout an innings.
Although aggressive batting can create wicket opportunities, it also makes maintaining a low economy rate difficult.
4. Longer Careers Are Needed
Muralitharan played 350 ODI matches.
A bowler averaging two wickets per match would still need 268 matches to reach 536 wickets.
Maintaining that performance over such a long career is extremely challenging.
Can Any Modern Bowler Break the 534-Wicket Record?
Breaking Muralitharan’s record would require exceptional consistency and a long international career.
A bowler would need to remain fit, play regularly and take wickets across many years.
Modern stars such as Mitchell Starc, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Rashid Khan have demonstrated outstanding wicket-taking ability.
However, their eventual career totals will depend on international schedules, selection, fitness and how long they continue playing ODI cricket.
Muralitharan’s record remains one of the most difficult bowling milestones in the format.
Frequently Asked Questions About Most Wickets in ODI Cricket
1. Who has taken the most wickets in ODI cricket?
Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record with 534 wickets.
2. How many ODI wickets did Muttiah Muralitharan take?
He took 534 wickets in 350 matches.
3. Who is second on the all-time ODI wicket-takers list?
Wasim Akram, with 502 wickets.
4. Who was the first bowler to take 500 ODI wickets?
Wasim Akram.
5. How many ODI wickets did Wasim Akram take?
502.
6. Who is third on the list?
Waqar Younis, with 416 wickets.
7. How many ODI wickets did Waqar Younis take?
416.
8. Which Indian bowler has taken the most ODI wickets?
Anil Kumble, with 337 wickets.
9. Who has the most ODI wickets for Pakistan?
Wasim Akram, with 502.
10. Who has the most ODI wickets for Sri Lanka?
Muttiah Muralitharan, with 534.
11. Who has the most ODI wickets for Australia?
Glenn McGrath, with 381.
12. Who has the most ODI wickets for South Africa?
Shaun Pollock, with 393.
13. Who has the best ODI bowling figures?
Chaminda Vaas, with 8/19 against Zimbabwe.
14. Who has taken the most five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket?
Waqar Younis, with 13.
15. How many ODI wickets did Shahid Afridi take?
395.
16. How many ODI wickets did Brett Lee take?
380.
17. How many ODI wickets did Glenn McGrath take?
381.
18. How many ODI wickets did Lasith Malinga take?
338.
19. How many ODI wickets did Anil Kumble take?
337.
20. Which bowler has the best average among the top 10?
Glenn McGrath, with an average of 22.02.
21. How many bowlers have taken 500 ODI wickets?
Two: Muttiah Muralitharan and Wasim Akram.
22. How many bowlers have taken 400 ODI wickets?
Four bowlers have reached at least 400 wickets.
23. Which bowler took 8 wickets in an ODI match?
Chaminda Vaas.
24. Who took 7/12 in ODI cricket?
Shahid Afridi against West Indies in 2013.
25. Who is India’s second-highest ODI wicket-taker?
Javagal Srinath, with 315 wickets.
26. Did Sachin Tendulkar take ODI wickets?
Yes. Sachin Tendulkar took 154 ODI wickets.
27. Who has taken the most wickets in ODI World Cup history?
Glenn McGrath, with 71 wickets.
28. Which Sri Lankan bowler took three ODI hat-tricks?
Lasith Malinga.
29. Is Muttiah Muralitharan retired?
Yes. He retired from international cricket in 2011.
30. Can Muralitharan’s ODI record be broken?
It is possible, but a bowler would need a long career and consistent wicket-taking performances.
Conclusion
The list of bowlers with the most wickets in ODI cricket includes some of the greatest names in cricket history.
Muttiah Muralitharan leads the rankings with 534 wickets, followed by Wasim Akram with 502 and Waqar Younis with 416.
Chaminda Vaas, Shahid Afridi, Shaun Pollock, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Lasith Malinga and Anil Kumble complete the all-time top 10.
Each bowler brought something different to the game, from deadly reverse swing and express pace to clever spin and exceptional accuracy.
These records reflect years of hard work, consistency and outstanding performances.
As ODI cricket continues to evolve, future generations will have the opportunity to challenge these milestones.
However, Muralitharan’s 534 wickets remain one of the greatest achievements in international cricket.
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