India remains one of the most formidable teams in world cricket. Although they haven’t clinched a 50-over ICC tournament in nearly 12 years, their dominance in bilateral series has been exceptional. They’ve reached the semi-finals of every 50-over ICC event since the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
When Indian cricket is mentioned, the conversation typically revolves around legendary batsmen like Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag. However, the crucial role of India’s bowlers in limited-overs cricket often goes unnoticed despite their significant contributions.
Fastest Indian Bowlers to 200 ODI Wickets
5. Javagal Srinath – 147 innings
Srinath reached his 200th ODI wicket in his 147th bowling innings. He retired in 2003 with 315 wickets in 229 matches, boasting an average of 28 and an economy rate of 4.44.
4. Anil Kumble – 147 innings
Anil Kumble, India’s most successful bowler across formats, reached the 200-wicket mark in his 147th ODI innings.
Kumble holds the record for the most ODI wickets by an Indian, claiming 337 wickets in 271 matches at an average of 30.89 and an economy rate of 4.3. Sadly, he never won an ICC Cricket World Cup during his illustrious career.
3. Zaheer Khan – 144 innings
Zaheer Khan, the left-arm speedster, achieved his 200th ODI wicket in just 144 bowling innings.
Khan played a crucial role in India’s 2011 World Cup victory, leading the tournament’s wicket-takers with 21 wickets from nine games at an average of 18. He played his last international match in 2014 in a Test against New Zealand in Wellington.
2. Ajit Agarkar – 133 innings
Agarkar retired in 2007 with 288 wickets from 191 ODIs, averaging 27.8 with an economy rate of 5.
1. Mohammed Shami – 103 innings
Mohammed Shami has set the record as the fastest Indian bowler to 200 ODI wickets, reaching the landmark in just 103 innings. He is also the second-fastest bowler in the world to achieve this feat, with Mitchell Starc taking one fewer innings.
Shami has accumulated 200 ODI wickets at an average of 23.83, with five five-wicket hauls to his name