Top 10 Best ODI Bowlers - Ranked

The contribution of bowlers in ODI cricket has been indelible. They have written new chapters in the course of the sport's history with their skill. From the speed and swing of fast bowlers to the magic of spinners, these iconic names have always threatened batters across generations. With their precise line and length, the best ODI bowlers have not only helped their teams to victory but also fixed themselves as the greatest players in the history of the format. They have stamped their authority in the batter-dominant sport with an astounding number of wickets they have bagged in their illustrious career. Here is a brief introduction to the top 10 best ODI bowlers of all time, who have popularised this format of the game with their mastery over the ball.

Best Bowler in ODI Cricket (Updated List 2025)

Ever since the introduction of one-day cricket, there has always been a buzz about it. This format eventually reached the peak of popularity, leaving Test cricket behind. Until the birth of T20 cricket, the 50-over format was the poster boy of the sport. And in this format, all the great bowlers have shown their magic year after year. Just as spinners have made their place in this list, pacers have also made an impact based on their performance. Now, let's look at the list of the top 10 best ODI bowlers who have made their name in the list of the best.

Who is Best ODI Bowler of All Time?

Figuring out the top 10 best ODI bowlers is chiefly a matter of cricketing opinion and criteria, as different bowlers excel in different aspects. However, there are a few names that are widely regarded as the top of the list. If we talk about taking the most wickets, Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan leads the way with 534 wickets. He is followed by Pakistan's Wasim Akram with 502 wickets. Wasim Akram is often regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time for his swing, pace and ability to take wickets under pressure. He excelled with both the new and old ball. This list of the top 10 best ODI bowlers also includes names like Brett Lee, Anil Kumble, Glenn McGrath and Chaminda Vaas.

10. Anil Kumble (India)

India's Anil Kumble is at number 10 in this list for the best ODI bowlers of all time. Although he is primarily a spinner, he can surprise everyone by bowling at a speed of more than 100 kmph at one time. In his long cricket career of 17 years, he has played 271 matches and taken 337 wickets. In these matches, he has given runs at an economy rate of just 4.30. He had the knack of picking up wickets at intervals and breaking partnerships in difficult situations. All in all, there is no difficulty in saying that Kumble has one of the best ODI bowling figures for India. Ravichandran Ashwin is the only bowler who comes close to his legacy.

9. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

One of the best bowler in ODI cricket history, Lasith Malinga has played a total of 226 matches in his ODI career. During this time, he has taken 338 wickets. His bowling average has been 28.88, while the economy rate has been 5.35. His best performance has been 6 wickets for 38 runs. Malinga has achieved the feat of taking 5 wickets in an innings 8 times in ODIs. In batting, he has scored 567 runs in 119 innings, with his highest score being 56 runs. He was known for his unique yorkers and consistent wicket-taking ability, especially in the death overs. He is the only bowler to take 3 hat-tricks in ODI cricket. He announced his retirement from ODI cricket in 2019, but made it into the top 10 best ODI bowlers.

8. Brett Lee (Australia)

Brett Lee, one of the best ODI bowlers of all time, has played a total of 221 matches in his ODI career, in which he took 380 wickets. His bowling average was 23.36, and his economy rate was 4.76. His best bowling performance has been 5 wickets for 22 runs, which he achieved against South Africa in Melbourne. Lee has taken 5 wickets in an innings 9 times. He is the joint highest wicket-taker in ODIs for Australia, along with Glenn McGrath. He is also the fastest bowler to take 350 wickets in ODIs, achieving this feat in his 202nd match and also makes his way in the top 10 best ODI bowlers list.

7. Glenn McGrath (Australia)

Glenn McGrath has been one of the most dominant fast bowlers in the history of ODI cricket. He played 250 matches in his 14-year-long ODI career and scalped 381 wickets. His bowling average was 22.02, which shows his stability and precise line length. McGrath's economy rate was also imposing, 3.88 runs per over. He bowled in such a way that it was difficult for batters to score runs against him. His best bowling performance was 7 wickets for 15 runs against Namibia in the 2003 World Cup. It is one of the best figures in World Cup history. McGrath's fierce pace also helped him secure a place among the best economy bowler in ODIs.

6. Shaun Pollock (South Africa)

Shaun Pollock was a brilliant all-rounder from South Africa who played a total of 303 matches in his ODI career. In these matches, he took 393 wickets with a bowling average of 24.51. His economy rate was 3.68 runs per over, one of the best in ODIs. His best bowling performance was 6 wickets for 35 runs. Alongside bowling, he also made significant contributions with the bat, including 3519 runs and his highest score is 130 runs. Known for his errorless line and length, Pollock also holds the record for bowling the most maiden overs (313) in ODI history. His achievements make him one of the best economy bowler in ODI.

5. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi has played a total of 398 matches in his ODI career. In those matches, he scalped 395 wickets with a bowling average of 34.51 and an economy rate of 4.63 runs per over. His best bowling performance has been 7 wickets for 12 runs. Apart from bowling, Afridi was also known for his aggressive batting, in which he scored 8064 runs. He scored 6 centuries and 39 half-centuries. Afridi's highest batting score is 124 runs, and his strike rate was 117.01, which reflects his explosive game. He is one of the players who has hit the most sixes (351) in ODI cricket and is one of the best ODI bowlers of all time.

4. Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)

Left-arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka has played a total of 322 matches in his ODI career and has taken 400 wickets. His bowling average was 27.54 while his economy rate was 4.19 runs per over. Vaas' best bowling performance was 8 wickets for 19 runs against Zimbabwe in 2001. This is the best bowling figures in an innings in ODI history. He has taken 5 wickets in an innings 4 times in ODIs. Vaas also created history by taking a hat-trick on the first three balls of the match against Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup, which is a unique record in the ODI World Cup.

3. Waqar Younis (Pakistan)

Waqar Younis is considered to be one of the greatest fast bowlers of Pakistan. He played a total of 262 matches in his ODI career in which he took 416 wickets. His bowling average was 23.84, and his economy rate was 4.69 runs per over. Waqar's best bowling performance was 7 wickets for 36 runs against England in 2001, and he achieved the feat of taking 5 wickets in an innings 13 times in ODIs. Together with Wasim Akram, he formed the mercurial pair and was known for his deadly reverse swing and yorkers with which he troubled many batters in his playing career.

2. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

Wasim Akram is often termed as the "Sultan of Swing". He is also considered one of the greatest bowlers in ODI cricket history. Akram played a total of 356 matches and took 502 wickets in his 19-year-long ODI career. He is in the list just after Muttiah Muralitharan. His bowling average was 23.53 and economy rate was 3.90 runs per over, which is one of the best ODI bowling economies. This displays his extraordinary perfection and control. Akram's best bowling performance was 5 wickets for 15 runs against the West Indies in 1990. He took 5 wickets in an innings 6 times in ODIs and 4 wickets in an innings 23 times. Modern Pakistan stars such as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah remain miles away from Akram's legacy in cricket.

1. Muthiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka)

The Sri Lankan off-spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket history. He played a total of 350 ODIs and took 534 wickets in his career. Murali's bowling average was 23.08, which shows his consistent wicket-taking ability. Muralitharan had an economy rate of 3.93 runs per over, with one of the best ODI bowling figures, making it difficult for batters to influence him. His best bowling performance was 7 wickets for 30 runs against India in 2000. He took 5 wickets in an innings 10 times in ODIs and 4 wickets in an innings 15 times.

How We Ranked The Best ODI Bowlers - Ranking Factors

If one looks closely at the game of cricket, it can be vividly seen that the battle between batters and bowlers has been going on since the birth of the game. There is an equal fight between the two major divisions in the game of cricket. However, many times in ODI cricket, it has also been seen that the batters' innings have been wrapped up with very few runs due to the dominance of the bowlers. All the great spells of the bowlers have given their opponents a hard time. The ranking of the bowlers in ODI is based on some ranking factors, which are as follows:

• Wickets Taken: The number of wickets a bowler takes in a match is an important factor. In making a list of the best bowlers, the bowler who takes the most scalps is at the top of the list. It is the main factor while making the chart of the best ODI bowlers.
• Economy Rate: The economy rate of the bowler is a pivotal thing while making the list. It depicts the average number of runs conceded by the bowler in one over during the innings. It also determines the bowler's capability and tells about the best bowling figures, which underlines their value.
• Opposition Quality: The quality of the opposition depicts the bowler's capability. If a bowler bowls well and takes wickets against batters from teams higher up the rankings, it will push him towards the top of the list of the top 10 best ODI bowlers. The quality of an opposition is a prime factor in determining the impact of a bowler.
• Overs Bowled: The number of overs a bowler bowls to dismiss the opposing batsmen plays a big role in making the list of the best bowlers. The fewer overs a bowler bowls to dismiss the opposing batsmen, the greater his achievement. This will also help him to stay at the top of the list.
• Bowling Condition: The conditions in which a bowler bowls determine how great a bowler he is. Sometimes the pitch is in a way that helps the bowlers. But the big thing is to show off the ball on a pitch that is helpful for the batters. The bowlers who can do that become the best.
• Strike Rate: A bowler's ability to take wickets is a measure of his size and his impact in the game for his team. The lower the strike rate of a bowler, the more effective he is in a match. Therefore, the strike rate of bowlers has also become a major factor in making this list of the best.
• Home and Away Factor: Bowling at home is not the same as bowling away. The atmosphere in an away match is always different from that at home. So, the bowler who can surprise the opponent will be higher on the list of the top 10 best ODI bowlers.