Fastest to 200 wickets in ODIs – Mohammed Shami equals Saqlain Mushtaq, beats Trent Boult and Brett Lee

Jonhenry Wilson 15 Feb 2025

Mohammed Shami plays ODI cricket for India

Mohammed Shami is among the fastest to reach 200 wickets in ODIs.

Do you want to know who has reached 200 ODI wickets in the fewest number of matches?

We have the answers for you. Read on to find out more.

Mohammed Shami is the latest to become one of the fastest to reach 200 wickets in ODIs.

10. Lasith Malinga – 127 ODIs for 200 wickets

The Sri Lankan pace ace achieved his 200th wicket in ODI cricket in his 127th match. Renowned for his unusual bowling action and near toe-cracking yorkers, Malinga enjoyed a prolific limited-overs career with Sri Lanka – and has since become a bowling coach in the Indian Premier League.

9. Makhaya Ntini – 126 ODIs for 200 wickets

One of two stars from South Africa on this list, Ntini too 126 ODIs to reach 200 wickets. He reached the milestone against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town, where he was named Player of the Match on the back of a game-winning six-wicket haul.

8. Shane Warne – 125 ODIs for 200 wickets

The only leg-spinner and one of three Australia bowlers on this illustrious list, Warne was relatively prolific en route to 200 wickets in ODI cricket – and reached the feat in his 125th match. The man for the big occasion, it happened at Lord’s against Pakistan for him.

7. Waqar Younis – 118 ODIs for 200 wickets

Much like Malinga, this Pakistan pace ace was well known for extreme pace and pinpoint yorkers. Not many will forget the day he took a hat-trick against New Zealand at Buffalo Park with searing speed and remarkable accuracy. Younis’ 200th ODI wicket arrived in 118 matches.

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6. Allan Donald – 117 ODIs for 200 wickets

Before the era of Dale Steyn and other notable Proteas fast bowlers, Donald was the man leading the pace attack. ‘White Lightning’, as he was famously nicknamed, didn’t quite bowl at the speed of light, but was very quick regardless. The venue was Chelmsford, the opposition Zimbabwe and the year 1999 when Donald’s 200th ODI wicket arrived in 117 matches.

5. Brett Lee – 112 ODIs for 200 wickets

Big ODI clashes between Australia and England are effectively an extension of the two countries’ longstanding Ashes battle. Lee needed just one wicket – it was Marcus Trescothick – on one such occasion to reach 200 in ODI cricket after 112 matches.

4. Trent Boult – 107 ODIs for 200 wickets

The second fastest to reach 200 ODI wickets among left-arm fast bowlers, New Zealand’s Boult did it in 107 matches. His milestone arrived during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, against Bangladesh in Chennai, India.

=2. Saqlain Mushtaq – 104 ODIs for 200 wickets

The fastest to reach 200 wickets in ODI cricket among spinners, Pakistan‘s Mushtaq collected the feat in 104 fixtures. One wicket – that of the legendary Jacques Kallis – was enough to get him there on the day, against South Africa in Nottingham, in 1999.

=2. Mohammed Shami – 104 ODIs for 200 wickets

Shami became the fastest right-arm seamer and fastest among Indian ODI cricketers to reach 200 ODI wickets during the 2025 Champions Trophy against Bangladesh in Dubai.

1. Mitchell Starc – 102 ODIs for 200 wickets

The fastest seamer, left-armer and overall to gather 200 wickets in ODI cricket, Starc needed just 102 matches to achieve the landmark. Averaging almost two wickets per ODI for an extended period is a superb feat, indeed.