Top 5 wicket-takers in ODIs between 2011 and 2015 World Cups

April 2nd, 2011 - The day will forever remain etched in the annals of Indian cricket history. On a balmy night at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the 'Men in Blue' lifted the World Cup after almost 28 years. The fervent joy surrounding the resplendent triumph of MS Dhoni's team spread far and wide across the country.

Four years later, Australia replicated India's rare feat by becoming only the second team to lift the World Cup by winning the final on home soil. Michael Clarke's team added an unparalleled fifth World Cup crown to Australia's burgeoning trophy cabinet.

Between the 2011 and 2015 editions of the World Cup, a whopping 464 ODIs were played in various venues across the globe. Let us take a look at the five leading wicket-takers in ODIs played between 3rd April 2011 and 13 February 2015. All wickets taken in the two editions of the World Cup are not taken into consideration for this particular segment.

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#5 Thisara Perera - 81 wickets

Thisara Perera is a utility player in the limited-overs formats

Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera eclipsed Pakistan's Shahid Afridi by just one scalp to enter the list of top five wicket-takers in the time period under consideration. With 81 wickets from 78 matches, the utility cricketer was a vital cog in his team's fortunes in the 50-over format. The right-arm seamer's 81 scalps came at an average of 33.46 and economy-rate of 5.75 including a career best haul of 6/44.

As evidenced by his impressive collection of 27 wickets from 17 matches, the Pakistani batsmen were Perera's favourite prey during the four-year phase. Aside from hitting the deck hard with the new-ball, he was also able to use canny variations such as slower deliveries and deceptive bouncers in the latter stages of the game. In addition to his handy bowling, he also scored a considerable amount of runs in the death overs.

#4 Ravichandran Ashwin - 102 wickets

Ashwin bowled the all-important final over of the 2013 Champions Trophy

His limited-overs career may have come to a standstill at the moment. However, Ravichandran Ashwin was an integral part of India's bowling attack in matches held between the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. Only Virat Kohli (96) and Suresh Raina (92) played more ODIs for India during this particular four-year phase. From 79 matches, the off-spinner picked up 102 wickets at an average of 34.30 and economy-rate of 4.91.

Ashwin's economy-rate indicates that he was able to control the flow of runs in the middle-overs. The dynamic cricketer's strike-rate of 41.8 does not reveal his menace as this was the period wherein conditions began to get tougher for finger spinners. The off-spinner's temperament for the big stage was on display during the 2013 edition of the Champions Trophy. His 2/15 from four overs played a massive role in helping India successfully defend a middling total in the final.

#3 Ravindra Jadeja - 105 wickets

Ravindra Jadeja was the highest wicket-taker in the 2013 Champions Trophy

Much like his fellow spin partner Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja's limited-overs future is currently mired in uncertainty. However, between the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, the left-armer formed a reliable spin combination with the Tamil Nadu cricketer. His accurate stump to stump line complemented the off-spinner's wiles. From 76 ODIs in the four-year phase, Jadeja picked up 105 wickets at an average of 29.95 and economy-rate of 4.78.

During India's triumphant campaign in the 2013 Champions Trophy, Jadeja was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. His 12 scalps also included the only five-wicket haul in his ODI career thus far. Notably, the left-armer was named Player of the Match in the final for his all-round performance. On overseas pitches producing just a semblance of turn, he bowled splendidly right throughout the tournament.

#2 Saeed Ajmal - 134 wickets

Saeed Ajmal was the most threatening off-spinner during his heydays

Among all bowlers who picked at least 50 wickets during the four-year phase, Saeed Ajmal's average of 19.57 was comfortably the best. With 134 wickets from 73 matches at an economy-rate of 4.02 and strike-rate of 29.1, the star off-spinner was the lynchpin of Pakistan's bowling attack in the 50-over format. Surprisingly, both of his five-wicket hauls in that particular period came in losing cause.

Even as bats became bulkier and pitches turned benign, Ajmal remained unblemished. His supreme mastery over line and length as well as extensive reservoir of variations turned him into an extremely lethal spinner. When conditions supported him even by the slightest of margins, he could run through batting lineups akin to a hot knife slicing through butter. Were it not for his stellar consistency, Pakistan would not have been able to notch memorable ODI series triumphs in India and South Africa aside from their 2012 Asia Cup victory.

#1 Lasith Malinga - 144 wickets

Lasith Malinga was much fitter and a lot quicker back then

Between the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, no specialist bowler played more matches or picked up more wickets than Lasith Malinga. From 93 ODIs, the fast bowler picked up 144 wickets at an average of 27.95 and economy-rate of 5.45. More pertinently, he procured as many as five five wicket-hauls during the four-year phase. Unlike in recent times wherein his form as well as fitness have deteriorated, he was at the top of his game back then and Sri Lanka's bowling plans largely revolved around him.

Extra Cover: Watch - Lasith Malinga turns into off-spinner in domestic match; picks up three wickets

Apart from moving the new-ball, Malinga was also used in the middle-overs to obtain essential breakthroughs. The right-arm seamer really came into his own during the death overs. With batsmen looking to up the ante, his precise yorkers and clever changes in pace helped him emerge on top on the vast majority of occasions. He was instrumental in Sri Lanka winning the 2014 Asia Cup as well as a bilateral ODI series on English shores.