In the history of the game, there have been some extremely brilliant bowling spells in One-Day International (ODI) cricket. Generally, bowlers take the back seat as high scoring games make all the noise with milestones but special bowling performances can turn a match around in a few overs. The best ODI bowling figures in cricket exemplify the unparalleled artistry, precision, and will with which bowlers have flattened even world class batting line-ups.
ODI cricket has given us unbelievable individual highs such as Chaminda Vaas’ 8/19 and Mohammed Siraj’s length spell in the Asia Cup final. This article will include the best bowling figures in ODI history, India’s best spells, and impressive bowling performances by Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra JadejaHaris Rauf, Sunil Joshi among other bowlers.
Interpreting Bowling Stats in ODI Cricket
Bowling figures – Bowling figures generally indicate a bowler’s performance in an innings. They are usually denoted in terms of Wickets/Runs.
For example:
- 8/19 refers to 19 runs in exchange for 8 wickets.
- 6/21 refers to 6 wickets including the all important wicket of big fish Virat Kohli at just 21 runs!
Higher the numbers, better the bowling effort.
Best Bowling Figures in ODI History
Below is a table showing some of the best-ever bowling figures achieved in ODI cricket.
| Rank | Bowler | Country | Figures | Opponent | Year |
| 1 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 8/19 | Zimbabwe | 2001 |
| 2 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 7/12 | West Indies | 2013 |
| 3 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 7/15 | Namibia | 2003 |
| 4 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 7/18 | West Indies | 2019 |
| 5 | Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 7/19 | Zimbabwe | 2024 |
Chaminda Vaas is the only bowler to ever take eight wickets in an ODI innings – and that will forever remain as the greatest ODI bowling feat.
ODI Best Bowling Figures for India
Over the many generations of cricket, India has had quite a record when it comes to legendary bowlers. ASIDE: Top #2 Bowling Spells By Indian Cricketers
| Bowler | Best Figures | Opponent |
| Stuart Binny | 6/4 | Bangladesh |
| Mohammed Siraj | 6/21 | Sri Lanka |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 6/19 | England |
| Ashish Nehra | 6/23 | England |
| Anil Kumble | 6/12 | West Indies |
Stuart Binny’s 6/4 is still the best ODI bowling for India, while Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have bowled some of the most iconic spells in modern cricket.
Best bowling figures in ODI for Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj best bowling figures in ODI the match was against Sri Lanka at the 2023 Asia Cup Final.
Siraj delivered the best opening spell of ODI cricket history picking 6 wickets for just 21 runs. Sri Lanka’s top order went missing for a few overs as they crumbled 12/6 to see Tharanga and Daniel Vettori looking worse than ever
His amazing spell saw India bundle out Sri Lanka for just 50 runs and clinch the Asia Cup title with ease. Siraj was the rightful winner of the Player of the Match award and this is considered as one of India’s finest ODI bowling performances in history.
Jasprit Bumrah Best Bowling Figures in ODI
Best ODI bowling figures for Jasprit Bumrah: 6 in 19 (against England, July 2022)
Bumrah bowled just great swing and pace, bowling vaunted yorkers and destroying the England batting. This fantastic spell is still one of the best fast bowling shows by any Indian cricketer in ODIs.
This performance undoubtedly goes right to the top when we talk about Bumrah best bowling figures in ODI. It underlined why Bumrah is touted to be among the best fast bowlers in the world.
Ravindra Jadeja Best Bowling Figures in ODI
His best bowling figures in ODI is 5 for 33 against West Indies.
Ravindra Jadeja, a master at left-arm spin and catching, has been a gem of a match-winner for India. He often keeps it tight with his economical bowling which allows him to get important breakthroughs during the middle overs.
Jadeja has a plethora of amazing ODI performances, but his fifer remains his career-best spell in that format.
Haris Rauf Best Bowling Figures in ODI
The rise of Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf and turning him to be one among dangerous pace bowlers in world cricket.
Haris Rauf best bowling in ODI – 5w/18r vs Afghanistan. With express pace, aggressive bowling and a couple of wickets he helped Pakistan seize control.
One needs to know that Rauf can bowl above 145 km/h and hence he has a knack of picking wickets with the new ball as well during the death overs.
Sunil Joshi Best Bowling Figures in ODI
Former Indian spinner, Sunil Joshi recorded one of the most economical ever bowling figures.
Sunil Joshi best bowling figures in ODI: 5/6 vs South Africa, Nairobi, 1999.
His 5-11 single-handedly decimated one of the top batting line-ups in world cricket and remains one of the finest ever spells from a spin bowler in ODIs.
Best Bowling Figures in ODI World Cup
There have been several outstanding bowling performances in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
| Bowler | Figures | Opponent | World Cup |
| Glenn McGrath | 7/15 | Namibia | 2003 |
| Mohammed Shami | 7/57 | New Zealand | 2023 |
| Andy Bichel | 7/20 | England | 2,003 |
| Tim Southee | 7/33 | England | 2015 |
Of these, Glenn McGrath’s 7/15 is also the best-ever figures by a bowler in ODI World Cup history.
Facts about ODI Bowling Records
- Apart from that Chadinda Vaas is the only one with 8 wickets in an ODI innings.
- Stuart Binny NOW has the best bowling figures FOR INDIA in #ODI.
- Asia Cup Final: 6/21 by Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah’s 6/19 is the best figure by an Indian pacer in an ODI overseas.
- Sunil Joshi’s 5/6 is one of the best five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket history.
- The record for the best bowling figures in an ODI World Cup is held by Glenn McGrath.
- In recent years, Haris Rauf has established himself as one of Pakistan’s main workhorses for wickets in ODIs.
Read More: Fastest 2000 Runs in ODI | Abhishek Sharma Sister
FAQs
Q1. Who has the best bowling figures in ODI history?
Chaminda Vaas holds the record with 8 wickets for 19 runs against Zimbabwe in 2001.
Q2. What are the best bowling figures in ODI for India?
Stuart Binny’s 6 wickets for 4 runs against Bangladesh are India’s best ODI bowling figures.
Q3. What are Mohammed Siraj’s best bowling figures in ODI?
The Mohammed Siraj best bowling figures in ODI are 6/21 against Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asia Cup Final.
Q4. What are Jasprit Bumrah’s best bowling figures in ODI?
Jasprit Bumrah best bowling figures in ODI are 6/19 against England in 2022.
Q5. What are Ravindra Jadeja’s best bowling figures in ODI?
The Jadeja ‘s best bowling figures in ODI are 5/33 against the West Indies.
Q6. What are Haris Rauf’s best bowling figures in ODI?
The Haris Rauf best bowling figures in ODI are 5/18 against Afghanistan.
Q7. What are Sunil Joshi’s best bowling figures in ODI?
The Sunil Joshi best bowling figures in ODI are 5/6 against South Africa in 1999.
Conclusion
Remarkable skill, discipline and match-winning prowess is reflected in the best bowling figures in ODI cricket. Be it the unrivalled show from Chaminda Vaas with 8/19, record for India (Stuart Binny) or brilliance of Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Haris Rauf and Sunil Joshi; fans around the globe are spellbound by these timeless spells. These iconic performances are a part of cricket history and as ODI cricket revives, fresh bowlers will try to break these legendary records.