Bowlers win you matches and bowlers win you tournaments because they will not have the same kinds of ups and downs that batters do. Their bad days are more likely to still be good enough to shrug off opposition. When on form, good bowlers can win their teams’ matches single-handedly. Below, we look at bowlers who not only have that ability but who might end the 2023 ODI World Cup as the leading wicket-taker.
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc is currently fifth on the list of highest wicket-takers in ODI World Cup history, behind Glenn McGrath (71), Muttiah Muralitharan (68), Lasith Malinga (56) and Wasim Akram (55). After the first match, he broke the record to become the fastest bowler to reach 50 wickets at the 50-over event and now has Akram and Malinga’s World Cup records within reach.
Starc was the highest wicket-taker in the 2019 ODI World Cup, with 27 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 18.59 and an economy of 5.43 runs an over. Among the top 10 wicket-takers, his strike rate of 20.51 was the second-best of the tournament. If Starc can reproduce his 2019 form, he is not only a bet to overtake Glenn McGrath’s record, but he will emerge as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker.
His form over the last three years has been good. In this World Cup cycle, Starc took 48 wickets in 26 innings at an average of 26.69, an economy of 5.48. His dominance at the two previous ODI World Cups bodes well for him in his third one.
Jasprit Bumrah
India struggled with their bowling in white-ball cricket in the 11-month period that Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable through injury. Between 2019 and 2023, Bumrah played only 19 innings for India, where he took 26 wickets at an average of 33.92 and an economy of 5.19.
Upon his return to ODI cricket, Bumrah showed why he is so valuable to India’s bowling lineup by subjecting the Pakistan batters to an interrogation with the new ball. Though he only took one wicket in his first spell, Bumrah drew the Pakistan top order into 17 false-shots.
The 2023 edition is Bumrah’s second ODI World Cup. At the 2019 World Cup, he was in the top five of highest wicket-takers with 18 wickets in 9 innings at an average of 20.61 and an economy of 4.41. His economy was the best among the top 10 highest wicket-takers. This year he has home conditions in his favour and can be expected to improve on his 2019 outing.
Shaheen Afridi
Compared to other bowlers in the top 10 wicket-takers at the 2019 World Cup, Shaheen Afridi bowled the least number of overs by a long shot. He was the only one to deliver less than 50 overs. During the tournament, Afridi took 16 wickets in 5 innings at an average of 14.62 and an economy of 4.96. He does not currently look in that form, but his form turns as quickly as he bowls it.
During the 2019 to 2023 WC cycle, the left-arm seamer bagged 46 wickets in 25 innings at an average of 25.22 and an economy of 5.42. His ability to take hauls of wickets stands him in good stead for the most wickets this tournament. In this cycle, he took two four-wicket hauls and a single five-wicket haul. Afridi’s new ball talents also add to the threat he brings.
Trent Boult
Few bowlers take as many as Trent Boult can in a single innings. In ODIs, he has taken the second-most and joint-second-most five and four-wicket hauls in ODIs. As an example, during the 2019 to 2023 World Cup cycle, he bagged three four-wicket hauls and a single five-for on his way to 33 wickets in 14 at an average of 16.09, an economy of 4.25.
Boult does not just bowl well in bilateral matches, he has also starred for New Zealand at the two past World Cups. He finished the 2015 edition as the joint-leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets in nine innings at an average of 16.86 and an economy of 4.36. Boult emerged from the 2019 World Cup as the joint-seventh highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 28.17 and an economy of 4.83.
Boult has familiarity on his side as his IPL experience will go a long way in helping him perform at his best.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav had a tough time in England conditions in 2019. He finished that campaign with six wickets in seven innings at an average of 56.16 and an economy of 5.02. Those numbers are way below average by Yadav’s standards.
But, he is not India’s leading spinner at the 2023 World Cup by accident. The wrist-spinner has worked on his craft and come back stronger, taking 59 wickets in 38 innings at an average of 28.24 and an economy of 5.39 runs an over in the 2019 to 2023 World Cup cycle. But, it was in the last two years that Yadav’s transformation has been noticeable. This year, he has picked up 35 wickets in 17 innings at an average of 16.31 and an economy of 4.68. No other Indian bowler has taken as many wickets as he has in the same period.
Yadav’s outstanding form and the advantage of home conditions make him a front-runner for the title of highest-wicket taker at this year’s showcase.
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