Top 5 ODI wicket-takers in 2017

In what was an action-packed year for the 50-over format, the various sparring teams provided cricket aficionados with plenty of memorable ODI matches in 2017. The year began when Australia defeated Pakistan by 92 runs at Brisbane and ended when New Zealand thumped West Indies by 66 runs in a rain-curtailed encounter at Christchurch. As many as 131 ODIs took place in the calendar year.

Let us now take a close look at the top five wicket-takers in ODIs held in 2017. In what can be construed as an indicator of things to come in the foreseeable future, only one spinner has managed to feature among the most successful bowlers of the year. With the modern-day 50-over game calling for bustling pace along with an assortment of variations, it is no surprise that the list is dominated by fast bowlers.

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#5 Trent Boult & Hardik Pandya - 31 wickets each

With 31 wickets each, Trent Boult and Hardik Pandya jointly occupy the fifth spot in the year's most productive bowlers. While the New Zealand pacer took those scalps from just 16 matches at an impressive average of 24.58 and economy-rate of 5.27, the Indian all-rounder needed 28 matches to procure the same number of wickets at an average of 35.51 and economy-rate of 5.57.

2017 saw Pandya make sizeable strides in his aspirations of becoming the seam bowling all-rounder that India have been craving for. Skipper Virat Kohli examined the right-armer's skills by using him at different stages of the game. The 24-year old stood up to the challenge by holding his own even as plenty of batsmen tried to take the attack to him.

Despite playing far lesser matches than his competitors from other countries, Boult was still able to make a significant impact on the ODI circuit. His 6/33 propelled New Zealand to a narrow victory in a series deciding clash at Hamilton. The left-armer ended the year with a flurry of wickets against West Indies. His 7/34 at Christchurch was the second best bowling figures in New Zealand's ODI history.

#4 Liam Plunkett - 36 wickets

Plunkett's sharp pace made him an extremely dangerous proposition for opposition batsmen

Liam Plunkett's career is an example of perseverance and work-ethic trumping natural talent. After entering the international arena as a bits-and-pieces player masquerading as an all-rounder, he revamped his physique and reinvented himself as a sturdy fast bowler capable of clocking high speeds on a regular basis. The right-armer continued his marked development in 2017 by contributing immensely to England's progression to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

From 18 matches in the calendar year, Plunkett picked 36 wickets at a remarkable average of 22.47. While an economy-rate of 5.62 can evoke a feeling of discontentment, it has to be noted that captain Eoin Morgan always used him as a strike-force and not as an containing option. The aggressive approach fetched him a career-best haul of 5/52 against West Indies at Bristol.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah - 39 wickets

A productive year saw Bumrah establishing himself as the best bowler in India's ODI lineup

Since bursting into the limelight during the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Jasprit Bumrah has come a long way. Upon being handed a lucrative contract by Mumbai Indians even before he could play a first-class match, he attuned his unorthodox bowling action to meet his relentless accuracy. The right-armer made his ODI as well as T20I debut in Australia early last year. 23 months later, a slew of consistent performances has seen him evolve into an indispensable component of India's bowling attack in the limited-overs formats.

While naysayers may associate 2017 with his ill-fated and costly no-ball during the Champions Trophy final against Pakistan, Bumrah performed creditably right throughout the year. From 23 ODIs in the calendar year, he scalped 39 wickets at an adequate average of 26.25 and economy-rate of 5.13. At Kandy, he scythed through Sri Lanka's batting lineup to complete his maiden five-wicket haul.

#2 Rashid Khan - 43 wickets

Rashid Khan tore opponents to shreds right throughout the calendar year

Notwithstanding the fact that he only played against weak batting sides such as Zimbabwe, Ireland and West Indies, Rashid Khan's 50-over statistics in 2017 make for unbelievable reading. From just 16 ODIs in the calendar year, he picked as many as 43 wickets at a jaw-dropping average of 10.44. An economy-rate of 3.80 and strike-rate of 16.4 reiterate his propensity to wreck batting lineups on a regular basis.

West Indies got an ample dose of Rashid's prowess during their brief series at Gros Islet in June. In the series opener, the talented leg-spinner tore the hosts' batting lineup to shreds and spearheaded Afghanistan to an euphoric 63-run victory. His astounding returns of 7/18 vaulted him to fourth in the list of best bowling figures in ODI history. If he continues to replicate his form against bigger opponents in the coming years, the promising 19-year old may soon have the world at his feet.

#1 Hasan Ali - 45 wickets

Hasan Ali's palpable energy has been at the forefront of Pakistan's ODI renaissance

When they barely managed to qualify for the Champions Trophy during September 2015, not many in their wildest dreams would have anticipated Pakistan's unfathomable turnaround and subsequent march to the title in 2017. In a year which saw them trade solidity in Tests for explosiveness in ODIs and T20Is, Hasan Ali provided his team with the spark to ignite their inspirational resurgence.

From 18 matches in the year, Hasan scalped 45 wickets at an astonishing average of 17.04 and enviable economy-rate of 5.03. He scooped three five-wicket hauls in 2017. A stunning strike-rate of 20.3 should help quantify his ability to pick wickets at almost every situation in the game.

The 2017 Champions Trophy served as the platform for Hasan to burst into prominence and make the cricketing world take notice of his enormous potential. Even as most other seamers struggled to be effective once they began to lose their swing, the 23-year old's discernible energy and exemplary control enabled him to remain penetrative right throughout the game.