In the culmination of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, Pat Cummins-led Australia to their sixth historic triumph, clinching the trophy after defeating the Indian team by 6 wickets in a final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The victory marked a poignant moment for Australia, while Indian players and fans faced disappointment as their quest for an ICC Trophy persisted. The loss in the final marked a sad end to a brilliant tournament for both Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah as the duo battled several off-field issues to deliver one of the finest performances by a seam-bowling duo in the history of the tournament.
With the tournament’s conclusion, let’s spotlight the exceptional bowlers who showcased their prowess by claiming the most wickets in the ODI World Cup 2023.
#5 Gerald Coetzee (South Africa): 20 wickets
Gerald Coetzee, left an indelible mark with his impressive fast bowling throughout the tournament, standing out as the standout fast bowler for his team. Despite the high expectations from other Proteas bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, Coetzee’s stellar performance included claiming 20 wickets in 8 matches at an impressive average of 19.80 and a strikingly efficient strike rate of 19.05, securing the second-best bowling strike rate in the entire tournament.
Over the course of 63.3 overs, he conceded 396 runs, maintaining an economy rate of 6.23. One of Coetzee’s standout moments occurred in a match against Afghanistan in Ahmedabad, where the Bloemfontein-born pacer showcased his brilliance by clinching 4 wickets while conceding only 44 runs in 10 overs.
The 23-year-old Proteas pacer’s consistency shone through as he also secured 3-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka, England, and Bangladesh. Notably, Coetzee maintained his wicket-taking streak in all 8 World Cup matches, reinforcing his status as a rising star in South African cricket.
#4 Jasprit Bumrah (India): 20 wickets
Jasprit Bumrah, the ace Indian pacer, showcased his mettle once again on the grand stage, delivering a spicy bowling performance throughout the 2023 World Cup. His absence in the 2022 T20I World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship Final was keenly felt by the Indian team, but upon his comeback from injury, Bumrah proved to be an absolute beast.
Examining his bowling prowess in the marquee event, the 29-year-old speedster secured an impressive 20 wickets with the third-best average of 18.65 among all bowlers. Notably, he boasted the best economy rate of 4.06 among full-time bowlers who played at least two matches, having bowled 91.5 overs and conceded 373 runs at a strike rate of 27.55.
Bumrah’s best bowling performance came against Afghanistan in Delhi, where he claimed four wickets in 10 overs, conceding only 39 runs. Another memorable display came against England in Lucknow, where the Ahmedabad-born pacer snared three crucial wickets in a low-scoring run chase.
#3 Dilshan Madhushanka (Sri Lankan): 21 wickets
In his meteoric career, the young left-handed Sri Lankan pacer has swiftly become a crucial asset for his team, capturing the spotlight with an impressive performance in the tournament. Amidst the entire Lankan squad, he stands out as one of the select few who has left an indelible mark.
Dilshan Madushanka took 21 wickets in 9 matches
At just 23 years old, this speedster has etched memories that will last a lifetime, claiming a remarkable 21 wickets in 9 matches with an average of 25 and a striking rate of 22.38. Hailing from Hambantota, his 78.2 overs on the field saw him concede 525 runs at an economy rate of 6.70.
A crowning achievement for this rising star was his exceptional performance against hosts India, where he showcased his mastery by claiming a five-wicket haul. His formidable bowling display at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium saw the dismissal of key Indian batters, including the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav.
#2 Adam Zampa (Australia): 23 wickets
Australia’s leg-spinner, Adam Zampa, emerged as the sole spinner among the top five wicket-takers in the tournament, playing a pivotal role in guiding the Men in Yellow through the league stage to the knockout phase of the World Cup 2023.
Despite starting the campaign wicketless against India, Zampa concluded as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker, securing an impressive 23 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 22.39, a strike rate of 25.04, and an economy rate of 5.36.
Notably, he secured 4 wickets each against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, while making significant contributions with 3 wickets each against New Zealand and England. In the final against India, Zampa shackled the Indian batters, conceding a mere 44 runs at an economy of 4.4.
#1 Mohammed Shami (India): 24 wickets
Shami now has four five-wicket hauls in ODI World Cup history, the most by any bowler
In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Mohammed Shami etched his name as a legendary figure among Indian bowlers in the annals of World Cup history. Initially warming the bench for the first four matches, Shami seized the opportunity when Hardik Pandya’s ankle injury sidelined him, entering the fray against Blackcaps at Dharamshala with a bowling performance that left everyone astounded.
Securing five wickets against the Blackcaps, Shami continued his stellar performance in the subsequent two matches against England and Sri Lanka, clinching 4 and 5 wickets respectively. However, the pinnacle of his brilliance unfolded in the knockout stage, specifically the semi-final clash against Blackcaps. Shami’s spellbinding performance yielded seven wickets, boasting the best figures of 9.5-0-57-7 in the tournament.
Shami played 7 matches in the tournament and secured 24 wickets with an outstanding bowling average of 10.71 and an unmatched bowling strike rate of 12.21, solidifying his position as the best bowler in the World Cup 2023. Across 48.5 overs, he conceded only 257 runs, showcasing an economy of 5.26.
Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, the pace maestro has now also surpassed Zaheer Khan in the list of most wickets taken for India in World Cups, with Shami amassing 55 wickets in 18 matches, the best wicket-per-match ratio amongst the top ten wicket-takers of the tournament’s history.