Most wickets in career in ODIs – Ravindra Jadeja, Adam Zampa chasing Anil Kumble, Shahid Afridi and others

Jonhenry Wilson 21 Feb 2025

Shaun Pollock has taken the most ODI wickets for South Africa.

Who has taken the most wickets in ODI cricket?

All players in this top 10 list have retired from international cricket.

Several active players, including Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Adam Zampa and Kagiso Rabada could be among the top wicket-takers in ODI cricket in the future.

10. Anil Kumble (India) – 337 wickets in 271 ODIs

Anil Kumble has taken the 10th most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. Kumble is the only Indian on this list and the most prolific leg-spinner for his country in ODI cricket.

9. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) – 338 wickets in 226 ODIs

Lasith Malinga has taken the ninth most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. Malinga is one of three Sri Lankans on this list and the most prolific right-arm seamer in ODI cricket for his country.

8. Brett Lee (Australia) – 380 wickets in 221 ODIs

Brett Lee has taken the eighth most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. Lee bowled with extraordinary pace at times and took one less wicket in 29 fewer ODIs than countryman McGrath.

7. Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 381 wickets in 250 ODIs

Glenn McGrath has taken the seventh most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. McGrath took nine four-wicket hauls and seven five-fors in ODI cricket for Australia.

Also read: Most runs in career in ODIs – can anyone beat Sachin Tendulkar?

6. Shaun Pollock (South Africa) – 393 wickets in 303 ODIs

Shaun Pollock has taken the sixth most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. Pollock has taken the most ODI wickets for South Africa. He is arguably the best seaming all-rounder on this list.

5. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 395 wickets in 398 ODIs

Shahid Afridi has taken the fifth most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. Afridi is the highest wicket-taker among leg-spinners in the history of ODIs.

4. Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) – 400 wickets in 322 ODIs

Chaminda Vaas has taken the fourth most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. He is second only to Akram in terms of the most wickets taken by left-arm seamers.

3. Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – 416 wickets in 262 ODIs

Waqar Younis has taken the third most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. Younis is the right-arm fast bowler with the most wickets in the history of ODI cricket.

2. Wasim Akram (Pakistan) – 502 wickets in 356 ODIs

Wasim Akram has taken the second most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. Akram is the left-arm fast bowler with the most wickets in ODI cricket. He has taken the most for Pakistan.

1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 534 wickets in 350 ODIs

Muttiah Muralitharan has taken the most wickets in the history of ODI cricket. Saqlain Mushtaq, with 288 ODI wickets, is Muralitharan’s closest competitors among right-arm off-spinners.