The first three editions of the World Cup were 60-over contests. Each bowler could bowl a maximum of 12 overs instead of 10 in the 50-over format.
In the first ever Cricket World Cup in 1975, India’s left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi bowled in only a couple of innings but recorded 14 maiden overs. Nobody could bowl a total of more than 14 maiden overs in that entire World Cup tournament.
Here is the complete list of players who bowled the most number of maiden overs in World Cup from 1975 to 2019 World Cup:
Also Read : Lowest Team Totals in World Cup
Players With Most Maiden Overs In World Cup (Year Wise)
| Year | Name | Maiden Over | Innings | Team |
| 2019 | Jasprit Bumrah | 9 | 9 | India |
| 2015 | Trent Boult | 14 | 9 | New Zealand |
| 2011 | Tim Southee | 9 | 8 | New Zealand |
| 2007 | Chaminda Vaas | 15 | 10 | Sri Lanka |
| 2003 | Glenn McGrath | 18 | 11 | Australia |
| 1999 | Shane Warne | 13 | 10 | Australia |
| 1996 | Glenn McGrath | 10 | 7 | Australia |
| 1992 | Derek Pringle | 15 | 8 | England |
| 1987 | Phil DeFreitas | 12 | 8 | England |
| 1983 | Bob Willis | 19 | 7 | England |
| 1979 | Majid Khan | 8 | 4 | Pakistan |
| 1975 | BS Bedi | 14 | 2 | India |
The most number of maiden overs bowled in a single edition of a World Cup tournament is 19, by England pacer Bob Willis in 1983 in England. Australia’s Glenn McGrath is the only bowler to bowl the most maidens in a Cricket World Cup edition twice. He did it 1996 and 2003 World Cups when he bowled 10 and 18 maidens respectively.
So far, three Englishmen, three Australians, 2 Kiwis, and 2 from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka each have topped the maiden overs charts in world cup. Out of the 12 toppers, 10 are pacers and 2 are spinners. The pacers have clearly ruled the roost here.
Most Maidens in World Cup (Overall)
| Span | Player | Team | Maidens | Innings | Wkts | BBI |
| 1996-2007 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 42 | 39 | 71 | 7/15 |
| 1996-2007 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 39 | 31 | 49 | 6/25 |
| 1975-1983 | Sir Richard Hadlee | New Zealand | 38 | 13 | 22 | 5/25 |
| 1996-2007 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 37 | 31 | 31 | 5/36 |
| 1979-1992 | Sir Ian Botham | England | 33 | 22 | 30 | 4/31 |
| 1987-1996 | Phil DeFreitas | England | 30 | 22 | 29 | 3/28 |
| 1975-1983 | Sir Andy Roberts | West Indies | 29 | 16 | 26 | 3/32 |
| 1979-1992 | Kapil Dev | India | 27 | 25 | 28 | 5/43 |
| 1979-1983 | Bob Willis | England | 27 | 11 | 18 | 4/11 |
| 1987-1999 | Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 23 | 17 | 27 | 4/25 |
The Australia pacer Glenn McGrath tops the table with 42 maidens in 39 innings. Chaminda Vaas holds the second position with a difference of 3 maidens. There are 3 Englishmen in the list and 2 West Indians.
Also Read : Lowest Totals Defended in World Cup
