India have been one of the most successful teams in the ODI World Cup history, having won the prestigious tournament twice so far.
The legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev led the Men in Blue to their first World Cup win in 1983 before the MS Dhoni-led side repeated the silverware victory at home in 2011.
To do well in a tournament like the World Cup, a team needs to be consistent in all the departments. While batters take all the headlines, the contributions of the bowlers should not be overlooked.
India have produced some remarkable batters over the years but have witnessed memorable masterclass performances from the bowlers as well.
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In this article, we'll explore the exceptional achievements of Indian bowlers who have taken the most wickets in World Cup matches.
From the star left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan and the veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble, let's look at the bowlers to have done brilliantly for India in the ODI World Cup history.
Kapil Dev - 28 wickets in 26 matches
Former Indian captain Kapil Dev led the team from the front in the memorable 1983 World Cup as India defeated the mighty West Indies to claim their first World Cup. Kapil went on to play in the four editions of the tournament and ended up picking 28 wickets in 26 matches at an economy rate of 3.76 and a best of 5/43.
Anil Kumble - 31 wickets in 18 matches
Indian legendary bowler Anil Kumble was one of the most consistent performers for India across formats. He still remains the top international wicket-taker for India. Kumble played in four World Cup editions (1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007) and featured in 18 games.
He picked up 31 wickets at an average and economy rate of 22.08 and 4.08, with a best bowling figure of 4/32.
Mohammed Shami - 31 wickets in 11 matches
Mohammad Shami is one of the key fast bowlers in the current Indian setup and has done well in the World Cups so far.
Shami has a stunning record as he picks up a wicket after every 18 balls as per his strike rate. He has played 11 games in the 2015 and 2019 editions and taken 31 wickets at an average of just 15.70.
Javagal Srinath - 44 wickets in 34 matches
Javagal Srinath was India’s main strike bowler in the 1990s. He played four editions for India (1992, 1996, 1999, and 2003) and ended up as the joint-highest wicket-taker for the men in blue in the World Cup event. Srinath played in 34 matches and ended up picking 44 wickets at an economy rate of 4.32 and a best of 4/30.
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Zaheer Khan - 44 wickets in 23 matches
Zaheed Khan is one of the top players to have contributed to India's remarkable feat in 2011. He ended up as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. He featured in 23 World Cup games and took 44 wickets in his career at an economy rate of 4.47 and a best of 4/42.