Top Wicket-Takers in Asia Cup (ODI Format)

image-ljobexbySri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan needs no introduction (Twitter)

The Asia Cup stands as the exclusive continental championship in the sport of cricket, with participation limited to teams from Asia. The tournament's name clearly indicates its regional focus, and the victorious team is crowned as the continent's champion. 

The inaugural edition of the tournament was held in 1984 in the United Arab Emirates, and since then, 14 more editions have taken place, with the most recent one occurring in 2022. Interestingly, in the first edition of the competition, Ravi Shastri, a former Indian all-rounder and current coach, emerged as the highest wicket-taker. Shastri claimed a total of 4 wickets from 2 matches throughout the tournament.

Let's dive into the article to know more about the top 10 players with the most wickets in Asia Cup:-


Top 10 Wicket-Takers in Asia Cup History

10) Shakib Al Hasan

image-ljmp1ci7Shakib Al Hasan (Twitter)

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladeshi all-rounder, had a significant impact during his international career from 2010 to 2018 in Asia Cup. Shakib's left-arm spin proved to be a valuable asset for the Bangladeshi team, and he claimed a total of 19 wickets in the Asia Cup tournaments (ODI format). His best bowling figures stood at 4/42 against Afghanistan in 2018, highlighting his ability to take important wickets and break partnerships. 


9) Ravindra Jadeja

image-ljmox532Ravindra Jadeja (Twitter)

Ravindra Jadeja, the talented Indian all-rounder, has featured in Asia Cups from 2010 to 2018. In the 14 One Day Internationals (ODIs) he played during this period.

Jadeja's left-arm spin proved to be a valuable asset for the Indian team, and he claimed a total of 19 wickets in three Asia Cup tournaments. His best bowling figures stood at 4/29 against Bangladesh in 2018, demonstrating his ability to take crucial wickets and provide breakthroughs for his team. 

Beyond his bowling contributions, Jadeja was also a useful lower-order batsman who played some crucial innings for India.


8) Abdur Razzak

Abdur Razzak, the Bangladeshi left-arm spinner, had a notable contributions in the Asia Cup tournament during his career from 2004 to 2014. He played 18 ODIs in the tournament, taking a total of 22 wickets with a best of 3/17. While his economy rate of 4.67 was respectable, it is important to note that his bowling average stood at 36.18.


7) Sanath Jayasuriya

image-ljobsrzcJayasuriya has more ODI wickets than late Shane Warne (Twitter)

The legendary Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya had a remarkable time in the Asia Cups from 1990 to 2008. In the 25 matches he played during this period in the ACC tournament, Jayasuriya showcased his explosive batting style and contributed significantly with his left-arm spin bowling.

Known for his aggressive batting approach, Jayasuriya revolutionized the role of an opener in limited-overs cricket. However, he was no less with the ball as he took 22 wickets with a best of 4/49.


6) Irfan Pathan

image-ljmp40ejIrfan Pathan (Twitter)

Irfan Pathan, the talented Indian all-rounder, had a notable career in the Asia Cup matches from 2004 to 2012. Pathan was known for his ability to swing the ball at a lively pace and was a valuable asset to the Indian bowling attack. With 22 wickets in his Asia Cup career, his best bowling figures were 4/32. His average of 27.50 reflected his effectiveness as a bowler, and he maintained an economy rate of 5.54, which showcased his ability to keep the scoring rate in check.

5) Chaminda Vaas

Known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and bowl accurate yorkers, Chaminda Vaas was a formidable force in the limited-overs format. With a total of 23 wickets in his Asia Cup career, his best bowling figures stood at 3/30. While his bowling average was an impressive 27.78, he maintained an economy rate of 4.19, highlighting his ability to contain runs and build pressure on the opposition.


4) Saeed Ajmal

image-ljoc021gSaeed Ajmal was a wizard with the ball (Twitter)

Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistani off-spinner, enjoyed a successful career in Asia Cup from 2008 to 2014. Known for his ability to spin the ball sharply and deceive batsmen with his variations, Ajmal proved to be a formidable force. With a total of 25 wickets in his Asia Cup career, his best figures came against Bangladesh, where he took 3/26 against Sri Lanka in Mirpur in 2014. 


3) Ajantha Mendis

image-ljoc39iuMendis' 6/13 bamboozled India in Asia Cup 2008 final (Twitter)

The Sri Lankan spinner made a significant impact during his brief but remarkable stint in Asia Cup. From 2008 to 2014, Mendis played eight matches in the tournament and showcased his exceptional bowling skills. In those 8 matches, he took an impressive tally of 26 wickets.

Mendis gained widespread recognition for his unique style of bowling, which featured a combination of leg-spin and off-spin deliveries mixed with subtle variations. His ability to deceive batters with his unorthodox spin and change of pace proved to be a potent weapon in his arsenal. 

In the 2008 Asia Cup, Mendis etched his name in the record books by producing an extraordinary bowling performance of 6/13 against India, which remains one of the best individual figures in ODI cricket.


2) Lasith Malinga

image-ljoc54bdMalinga was known for his slingy action and accuracy (Twitter)

Known for his deadly yorkers and unorthodox bowling action, Malinga left an indelible mark on the world of cricket during his tenure as a fearsome fast bowler. In his time in Asia Cup from 2004 to 2018, Malinga showcased his ability to consistently take wickets, scalping a total of 29 wickets from 14 matches played.


1) Muttiah Muralitharan

image-ljmp99cnMuttiah Muralitharan (Twitter)

The legendary Sri Lankan spinner etched his name in the annals of cricket history as the highest wicket-taker in One Day International (ODI) cricket. From his debut in 1993 until his retirement in 2011, Muralitharan mesmerised batters with his unique bowling style and unrivalled spin wizardry. Similarly, he was a nightmare for the batters in the Asia Cup as well.

Muralitharan's ability to spin the ball sharply and extract turn on any surface made him a formidable force in the limited-overs format, and he took a total of 30 wickets in 24 matches he played in the tournament. During his tenure, Sri Lanka won three titles.