Just like we discussed with test cricket, the bowlers love picking up wickets in the 50 over format of the game as well and the bowlers who do well in the ODI format get instant recognition because more people watch it as compared to test cricket and that Bowler becomes a legend at the end of his career. These bowlers are the ones who work extremely hard on their different skills and innovate over the years.
In the glorious 49 year history of the ODI game, there have been many fast and spin bowlers who have picked lots of wickets throughout their bowling career and won lots of matches for the men in blue over the years. So, let’s look at the Top 5 Indian bowlers with most wickets in ODIs.
1. Anil Kumble (334 Wickets):
To be at the Top of the most wickets in test cricket list by an Indian is an astounding feat in itself but to be at the Top of both the tests and ODIs list for Bowlers means that he has been the Undisputed greatest bowler to ever play for India. To do such a feat , one needs to be extremely skilled, driven and have a career that spans decades and then also being at the top of the game for so long is special. During his illustrious career he has taken 5 wickets in an innings 2 times and he will be the number 1 on this list for quite some time as is the case with test cricket.
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2. Javagal Srinath (315 Wickets):
One of the best ODI bowlers to ever play for India and the leader of the pace attack for a long time and his contributions to the game will never be forgotten. Javagal Srinath Bowled at the highest level for 12 years and picked up Wickets after wickets and he used to instill fear in the opposition batters and get them out. In his illustrious career he picked up 5 wickets in an ODI innings 3 times and he has won many matches for India by his own bowling and that is the reason why all cricket fans love him to.this day.
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3. Ajit Agarkar (288 Wickets):
From 1998-2007, Ajit Agarkar was the premier fast bowler in India in the limited overs format of cricket and he was one of the best during that time picking up Wickets regularly against all opposition and excelling in all pitch conditions around the world. He has taken 5 wickets in an ODI match 2 times and many times he has taken 4 wickets in an ODI innings and won ODIs for India on a consistent basis. Even though he played only a decade, Ajit Agarkar has left a mark in the ODI game that his name will be in the record books forever.
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4. Zaheer Khan (269 Wickets):
Along with Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan was one of those bowlers who was equally great in the long and the short formats of the game. He was an inspiration for all left arm fast bowlers and the pace bowlers who wanted to know how to swing a ball, Zaheer Khan was the perfect exponent of swing bowling. During his amazing career in the ODI format, he has notched up 5 wickets in an ODI innings once and no one can forget his career defining performance in the 2011 World Cup with him taking 21 wickets in that tournament and helping India win that World Cup.
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5. Harbhajan Singh (265 Wickets):
To be the only spinner other than the great Anil Kumble in this illustrious list shows that Bhajji was one of the best ever in every situation of cricket and he was a character in the team as well. He has picked up 5 wickets in an ODI innings 3 times in his career and he was also one of the prime members of the 2011 World Cup winning team and the fans will miss his immense contributions to the benefit of Indian cricket.
