Taking five wickets in a single innings is one of the biggest achievements for any bowler in One Day International cricket. Every five-wicket haul reflects a combination of skill, control, accuracy, and the ability to perform under pressure. The players with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career have consistently produced match-winning spells that helped their teams dominate important matches.
The list of the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career features some of the greatest fast bowlers and spinners in cricket history. Fast bowlers use swing, pace, seam movement, and yorkers to dismiss batters, while spinners depend on flight, turn, bounce, and variations. Despite using different bowling styles, every player on this list has regularly delivered outstanding performances throughout a long international career.
List of 10 Bowlers with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career
10. Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan has become one of the finest leg-spinners in modern ODI cricket despite making his debut only in 2015. His quick arm action, sharp leg-spin, accurate line, and clever variations have made him a constant threat to batters around the world. Afghanistan has relied heavily on Rashid to break partnerships and control the middle overs, and he has delivered remarkable performances on many occasions. His rapid rise has earned him a place among the players with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
Rashid has already taken six five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket, which is an incredible achievement considering the number of matches he has played. His ability to take wickets regularly and maintain an outstanding bowling average shows why he is regarded as one of the world’s best white-ball bowlers. If he continues at the same pace, he could climb even higher in the rankings for the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2026 | 120 | 1,470 | 214 | 6 |
9. Mustafizur Rahman
Mustafizur Rahman made an unforgettable start to his ODI career and quickly became Bangladesh’s leading fast bowler. His deceptive cutters, slower deliveries, and excellent control have troubled some of the world’s best batters. Even on flat pitches, he has found ways to create wicket-taking opportunities through smart variations and disciplined bowling. These qualities have helped him secure a place among the players with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
The left-arm pacer has collected six five-wicket hauls during his ODI journey and has played a major role in several memorable victories for Bangladesh. His bowling is especially effective during the death overs, where his slower balls become difficult for batters to score against. Mustafizur continues to strengthen his record in the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career rankings with every successful performance.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2026 | 124 | 321 | 193 | 6 |
READ MORE: Top 10 Fastest Players to Reach 8000 Runs in ODI Cricket
8. Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami has built a reputation as one of India’s most dangerous ODI fast bowlers. His natural seam movement, ability to bowl at high speed, and consistent accuracy have helped him dismiss top-quality batters throughout his international career. Whether bowling with the new ball or returning during the death overs, Shami has repeatedly delivered outstanding performances. His achievements have earned him a place among players with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
Shami has claimed six five-wicket hauls despite playing fewer matches than several legendary bowlers on this list. His attacking mindset allows him to keep searching for wickets instead of simply restricting runs. His impressive performances in ICC tournaments have further enhanced his reputation and strengthened his position among the bowlers with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–2025 | 108 | 209 | 206 | 6 |
7. Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath proved throughout his ODI career that speed is not always necessary to dominate world-class batters. His exceptional line and length, combined with outstanding discipline, allowed him to create pressure over long spells. Batters often struggled to score freely against him, leading to mistakes and wickets. This remarkable consistency helped him become one of the bowlers with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
McGrath finished with seven five-wicket hauls and remained Australia’s bowling leader for many years. His ability to perform in World Cups and other major tournaments played a huge role in Australia’s success during one of the greatest periods in ODI cricket. His achievements continue to place him among the legends of the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–2007 | 250 | 115 | 381 | 7 |
6. Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga revolutionized fast bowling with his unique sling-arm action and deadly yorkers. Few bowlers have been as effective during the final overs of an ODI innings as Malinga. His ability to bowl full-length deliveries with remarkable accuracy made him extremely difficult to score against. These match-winning spells earned him a place among the players with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in an ODI Career.
The Sri Lankan star recorded eight five-wicket hauls during his outstanding ODI career. His bowling regularly turned matches in Sri Lanka’s favor, especially when the opposition appeared to be in a strong position. Malinga’s consistency and wicket-taking ability ensure that he remains one of the greatest names associated with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2019 | 226 | 567 | 338 | 8 |
5. Shahid Afridi
Although Shahid Afridi is remembered mainly for his aggressive batting, he also enjoyed an outstanding ODI bowling career. His attacking leg-spin often broke important partnerships during the middle overs and helped Pakistan gain control of matches. Afridi’s fearless approach with the ball made him one of the most valuable all-rounders in cricket history and secured his place among the players with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in an ODI Career.
Afridi registered nine five-wicket hauls throughout his ODI career while also contributing thousands of runs with the bat. His all-round performances frequently changed the outcome of matches, making him one of Pakistan’s greatest match winners. His achievements continue to rank him among the finest bowlers with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in his ODI Career.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–2015 | 398 | 8,064 | 395 | 9 |
4. Brett Lee
Brett Lee was one of the fastest bowlers ever to play ODI cricket. His express pace, aggressive attitude, and ability to swing the ball made him a nightmare for batters in every part of the world. Lee regularly attacked the stumps and forced batters into mistakes with his speed and bounce. His outstanding performances helped Australia dominate world cricket for more than a decade and earned him a place among the players with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in an ODI Career.
Lee finished his ODI career with nine five-wicket hauls, showing his ability to produce match-winning bowling spells on the biggest stages. He consistently delivered breakthroughs with both the new ball and the old ball, making him one of Australia’s greatest fast bowlers. His achievements remain among the finest in the history of the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career, and his contribution to Australian cricket is still highly respected.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–2012 | 221 | 1,176 | 380 | 9 |
3. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc has established himself as one of the greatest left-arm fast bowlers in ODI cricket. His ability to swing the new ball at high pace, bowl accurate yorkers, and generate extra bounce has made him one of the most dangerous wicket-takers in the modern game. Starc has consistently delivered outstanding performances against the world’s strongest batting line-ups and continues to climb the rankings for the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
One of the most impressive aspects of Starc’s record is that he has collected nine five-wicket hauls in far fewer matches than many legendary bowlers. His exceptional strike rate highlights how quickly he removes batters, making him one of the most effective bowlers in ODI history. As he continues his international career, Starc has a realistic chance of moving even higher on the list of the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2025 | 130 | 541 | 247 | 9 |
READ MORE: Top 10 Bowlers with the Best Career Strike Rate in ODIs
2. Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan is widely regarded as the greatest spinner in ODI cricket history. His extraordinary ability to spin the ball, deceive batters with variations, and maintain exceptional consistency allowed him to dominate international cricket for nearly two decades. Every opposition found it difficult to score freely against him, and his remarkable performances helped Sri Lanka win countless matches. These achievements place him among the greatest bowlers with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in an ODI Career.
Muralitharan completed his ODI career with ten five-wicket hauls and remains the highest wicket-taking spinner in the format. His ability to bowl economical spells while taking regular wickets made him one of the most complete bowlers cricket has ever seen. Even years after his retirement, his remarkable achievements continue to inspire young spinners and keep him near the very top of the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career rankings.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–2011 | 350 | 674 | 534 | 10 |
1. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis holds the record for the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in an ODI Career, making him one of the greatest fast bowlers the game has ever produced. His deadly reverse swing, lightning-fast yorkers, and ability to bowl at extreme pace made him one of the most feared bowlers of his generation. Throughout his career, Waqar consistently produced devastating spells that completely changed the outcome of matches and helped Pakistan secure many memorable victories.
The Pakistani legend finished with an incredible 13 five-wicket hauls, the highest number by any bowler in ODI history. Along with taking 416 wickets, he regularly dismantled batting line-ups with aggressive, attacking bowling that few players could handle. His consistency over more than a decade ensured that his record for the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career became one of the greatest achievements in ODI cricket. Even today, Waqar Younis remains the benchmark for fast bowlers aiming to dominate the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career rankings.
| Span | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–2003 | 262 | 969 | 416 | 13 |
The players with the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in their ODI Career have earned their place through years of consistency, outstanding skill, and countless match-winning performances. From Rashid Khan’s modern-day brilliance to Waqar Younis’ record-breaking achievements, every bowler on this list has left a lasting mark on ODI cricket. Whether through raw pace, deadly swing, clever spin, or exceptional accuracy, these legends have shown that taking five wickets in an innings is one of the most valuable contributions a bowler can make. As international cricket continues to evolve, their records in the Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Career rankings will remain among the most celebrated milestones in the history of One Day International cricket.