Most Wickets by Off Spinners in ODI
This guide explores the record-breaking performances of top off-spinners, highlighting the bowlers who have dominated the ODI format with their precision and skill.
Most ODI Wickets by Off Spinners
| Player | Innings | Wickets | Best Bowling (Innings) | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4W/5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | 341 | 534 | 7/30 | 23.08 | 3.93 | 35.2 | 15/10 |
| Saqlain Mushtaq (PAK) | 165 | 288 | 5/20 | 21.78 | 4.29 | 30.4 | 11/6 |
| Harbhajan Singh (IND) | 227 | 269 | 5/31 | 33.35 | 4.31 | 46.3 | 2/3 |
| Carl Hooper (WI) | 203 | 193 | 4/34 | 36.05 | 4.36 | 49.6 | 3/0 |
| Saeed Ajmal (PAK) | 112 | 184 | 5/24 | 22.72 | 4.18 | 32.6 | 6/2 |
| Mohammad Nabi (AFG) | 165 | 176 | 5/17 | 32.57 | 4.30 | 45.4 | 4/1 |
| Chris Gayle (WI) | 199 | 167 | 5/46 | 35.48 | 4.78 | 44.4 | 3/1 |
| Shoaib Malik (PAK) | 217 | 158 | 4/19 | 39.18 | 4.66 | 50.3 | 1/0 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) | 114 | 156 | 4/25 | 33.20 | 4.93 | 40.4 | 1/0 |
| Ajantha Mendis (SL) | 84 | 152 | 6/13 | 21.86 | 4.80 | 27.3 | 7/3 |
Key Insights on Most Successful Off Spinners in ODI History
Dominant Individual Bowling Records
Muttiah Muralitharan has taken the most wickets as an off spinner in ODIs. His 534 wickets are, in fact, the most by any bowler in this format.
Muralitharan is the only spinner to bag 10 five-wicket hauls in ODIs. He is, overall, second on that list behind Waqar Younis (13).
Muralitharan has also claimed the most four-wicket hauls among spinners, with 25 such spells to his name.
Muralitharan has delivered the best bowling figures among off spinners in ODIs. He returned 7 for 30 against the West Indies in the 2016 Basseterre ODI.
Efficiency and Career Benchmarks
19 off spinners have taken 100 or more wickets in the ODI format.
Saqlain Mushtaq has bagged the most wickets as an off spinner in a calendar year in ODIs. He took 69 wickets across 34 innings in 1997. This is also the most wickets by any bowler in a year in ODIs.
Saqlain has the best bowling average among off spinners in ODIs (minimum 50 innings). He claimed 288 wickets at 21.78 in 165 innings.
Pakistan’s Ali Raza is the most economical off spinner in ODIs (minimum 2000 balls bowled). He took 38 wickets at an economy rate of 3.71 in 48 innings.
Ajantha Mendis has the lowest bowling strike rate as an off spinner in ODIs (minimum 2000 balls bowled). He struck after every 27.3 deliveries while taking 152 wickets in 84 outings.
Venue and Opposition Performance Milestones
He is also the only spinner with 70-plus wickets against three opponents, with 74 wickets each against India and New Zealand.
Ajantha Mendis has picked up the most wickets as an off spinner in a bilateral ODI series. He fetched 15 wickets on the five-match tour of Zimbabwe in 2009.
Muralitharan took 82 of his 534 wickets at the UAE’s Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the most by any at a single venue in ODIs.
Muralitharan has also taken the most wickets among all spinners at a home venue in ODIs. He picked up 75 wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Muralitharan extended his wicket tally in Sri Lanka to 154, the most by any at home in ODIs.
Muralitharan claimed 96 of his scalps against Pakistan, the most by any spinner against an ODI team.
