The ICC Cricket World Cup has had remarkable instances of bowling performance, yet only a few bowlers have been able to dominate a complete contest. The record of the highest wickets in a single World Cup is currently held by Mitchell Starc, who took the World Cup by storm with 27 wickets in the 2019 World Cup, shattering the previous record of Glenn McGrath in 2007. Other bowlers like Mohammed Shami, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralidaran and Adam Zampa have also had their own memorable wicket-taking campaign across various eras, and this has made the importance of bowling excellence on the largest stage in cricket.
This article concentrates on the 10 best wicket takers in one ICC Cricket World Cup, and the performances that created these historical tournaments.
Highest Wicket-Takers in a Single ICC Cricket World Cup
| Rank | Bowler | World Cup Year | Wickets | Matches |
| 1 | Mitchell Starc | 2019 | 27 | 10 |
| 2 | Glenn McGrath | 2007 | 26 | 11 |
| 3 | Mohammed Shami | 2023 | 24 | 7 |
| 4 | Chaminda Vaas | 2003 | 23 | 10 |
| 5 | Muttiah Muralidaran | 2007 | 23 | 10 |
| 6 | Shaun Tait | 2007 | 23 | 11 |
| 7 | Adam Zampa | 2023 | 23 | 11 |
| 8 | Mitchell Starc | 2015 | 22 | 8 |
| 9 | Trent Boult | 2015 | 22 | 9 |
| 10 | Brett Lee | 2003 | 22 | 10 |
1.Mitchell Starc (27 wickets in the 2019 World Cup)
It was in the 2019 World Cup that Mitchell Starc was spitting fire with the ball in hand. In a total of 10 matches played, Starc took 27 wickets, which became the record for most wickets in a single ODI World Cup.
What’s fascinating is the average of 18.59 in the World Cup, which had plenty of runs. Starc had 2 five-wicket hauls but sadly couldn’t win the title for Australia.
2.Glenn McGrath (26 wickets in the 2007 World Cup)
One of the finest when it comes to World Cups is Glenn McGrath. Always accurate with the line and length, McGrath played a key role in the 2007 World Cup for Australia. 26 wickets in 11 matches with an average of 13.73 is unbeatable.
His ability to swing the ball and pick wickets for fun was the key. What’s interesting is that he didn’t have a single 4-wicket or 5-wicket haul. Still, the ultimate bowling effort sounded nothing but brilliant.
3.Mohammad Shami (24 wickets in the 2023 World Cup)
Mohammad Shami has been playing in the World Cup for India since 2015 and has done well, too. His big year came in 2023 when Shami took India to the finals. Playing with an injury, Shami played 7 games.
24 wickets in 7 games means that he had more than 3 wickets every game. The best figure for Shami was 7 wickets for 57 runs on 3 occasions, a 5-wicket haul.
4.Chaminda Vaas (23 wickets in the 2003 World Cup)
A gentle left-arm seam bowler who knows how to pick wickets in the first 10 overs, Chaminda Vaas was a star without a doubt. Vaas was unstoppable in the 2003 World Cup, picking up wickets with an average of 14.39.
With an ability to move the ball at a good pace, Vaas picked up 23 wickets in the World Cup. He also had an economy rate of 3.76 in the tournament, which assured he didn’t give away runs either.
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5.Muttiah Muralidharan (23 wickets in the 2007 World Cup)
Any bowling record without the presence of Muttiah Muralidaran is a mistake. As a result of that, he featured in the heroics of the 2006/7 World Cup.
In a total of 10 matches, Murali was able to pick up 23 wickets with the ball in hand. It was his Herculean effort that took Srilanka into the finals. Being a brilliant spinner, his economy rate was 4.14.
6.Shaun Tait (23 wickets in the 2007 World Cup)
An underrated superstar in the 2007 World Cup win of Australia was Shaun Tait. In the whole tournament, Tait dismantled the batters with his high-end pace. Out of the 11 matches played, Tait had 23 wickets to his name.
A talented pace bowler, Tait didn’t give away too many runs with an economy rate of 5.52. One could say that Tait was the right support for the likes of Brett Lee.
7.Adam Zampa (23 wickets in the 2023 World Cup)
Just imagine you are the sole spinner for a tournament in India, and you excel big time. Adam Zampa did the heroics for Australia so that the Aussies won the 2023 World Cup in India.
Zampa, being the lead spinner of the side, picked up 23 wickets from 11 matches. In the crucial matches, Zamps maintained an economy rate of 5.36, which was hard to overcome. He is still a key bowler for Australia and was recently selected in the T20 World Cup squad.
8.Mitchell Starc (22 wickets in the 2015 World Cup)
With 22 wickets in the very first World Cup tournament, that too in helping the team win the title, Mitchell Starc was aimed for greatness right from the start. Playing in the 2015 World Cup, Starc was part of 8 matches.
With an astounding average of 10.18, Starc picked up 22 wickets. His best bowling came with 6 for 28 against New Zealand. Meanwhile, he bowled with pace, fire, and an economy rate of 3.50.
9.Trent Boult (22 wickets in the 2015 World Cup)
In the same 2015 World Cup, there was another left-arm pace bowler who wanted to make a massive impact. Trent Boult did his level best to take the Black Caps into the finals of the 2015 ODI World Cup.
Twenty-two wickets with an average of 16.86, not only that, but he also had an economy rate of 4.36, which showed class and control.
10.Brett Lee (22 wickets in the 2003 World Cup)
The last name on the list of most wickets in a single ODI World Cup is Brett Lee. The superstar of the Australian cricket team, Brett, made headlines in the 2003 ODI World Cup. In the quest to help Australia win the title, Brett took 22 wickets.
Those 22 wickets came with an average of 17.90, which would be tougher to break. Meanwhile, Lee has firepower with his pace, and the best of 5 for 42 is living proof of it.
When Bowling Brilliance Defines World Cup History
Taking the most wickets in one ICC Cricket World Cup is a statement of long-term greatness, and it takes skill, a strong mind, and an ability to adjust to different situations. Bowlers who appear on this list have always stepped up to the occasion and given match-winning spells against the world’s best batters and are able to cope with the pressure of global tournaments.
With speedy attacks to skilful swing and spin, these shows demonstrate how crucial the bowlers are in crafting the results of the World Cup. It could be the record-breaking run of Mitchell Starc, the unsurpassed consistency of Glenn McGrath or the efficiency of Mohammed Shami in fewer matches; each season serves as a reminder that dominant bowling can leave a lasting mark in the history of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
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