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Highest Wicket Taker in World Cup
The World Cup is the biggest stage for cricket, where the best players showcase their skills and compete for the ultimate glory. Bowling is one of the most important aspects of the game, as it can win matches by taking wickets and restricting runs. Some bowlers have excelled in this format and have taken the most wickets in World Cup history. Here are the top 5 highest wicket takers in World Cup across all formats:
1. Glenn McGrath (Australia)
The Australian legend is the undisputed king of World Cup bowling, with a record 71 wickets in 39 matches. He played in four editions of the tournament, from 1996 to 2007, and was part of three winning teams. He had an average of 18.19, an economy of 3.96 and a strike rate of 27.53. His best figures were 7/15 against Namibia in 2003, which is also the best bowling performance in World Cup history.
2. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
The Sri Lankan spin wizard is the second-highest wicket taker in World Cup, with 68 wickets in 40 matches. He played in five editions of the tournament, from 1996 to 2011, and was part of the victorious team in 1996. He had an average of 19.63, an economy of 3.88 and a strike rate of 30.30. His best figures were 4/19 against Bermuda in 2007.
3. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
The Sri Lankan slinger is the third-highest wicket taker in World Cup, with 56 wickets in 29 matches. He played in four editions of the tournament, from 2007 to 2019, and was part of the runner-up team in 2007 and 2011. He had an average of 22.87, an economy of 5.51 and a strike rate of 24.89. His best figures were 6/38 against Kenya in 2011, which is also the second-best bowling performance in World Cup history. He is also the only bowler to take four wickets in four balls twice in international cricket, both times in World Cups.
4. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
The Pakistani swing master is the fourth-highest wicket taker in World Cup, with 55 wickets in 38 matches. He played in five editions of the tournament, from 1987 to 2003, and was part of the winning team in 1992. He had an average of 23.83, an economy of 4.04 and a strike rate of 35.40. His best figures were 5/28 against Namibia in 20031. He is also widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time.
5. Mitchell Starc (Australia)
The Australian speedster is the fifth-highest wicket taker in World Cup, with 49 wickets in just 18 matches. He played in two editions of the tournament, in 2015 and 2019, and was part of the winning team in 2015. He had an average of 14.81, an economy of 4.64 and a strike rate of 19.121. His best figures were 6/28 against New Zealand in 20151, which is also the third-best bowling performance in World Cup history. He also won the Player of the Tournament award in 2015 for his outstanding bowling.
These are the top five highest wicket takers in World Cup history across all formats. I hope you enjoyed reading this article. Follow 12cricket.com for news and updates
