Top 5 wicket takers in World Cup history

It has often been seen that the batsmen dominate World Cups and steal the limelight but it is the side having the best and most settled and varied bowling unit wins the world cup. Be it the West Indies in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, or India in 1983 and 2011, or Australia in 1999, 2003 and 2007, almost every time the champion side had their bowling unit in top form.

So bowlers have played an enormous part in making their teams lift the trophy and here we look at 5 such legends who have been the top wicket-takers in the Cup's history:

#5 Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath

Both Indian legends had 44 wickets in their kitty from 23 and 34 World Cup matches respectively. Zaheer was the spearhead of the Indian attack in the victorious campaign of 2011, ending as the joint highest wicket-taker. and played under the able guidance of Javagal Srinath, where India ended up being the runners-up.

Srinath picked the wickets at an average of 27.82 and had four-fers while Zaheer had an average of 20.23 and had 1 four-wicket haul.

Zaheer Khan

#4 Chaminda Vaas

Probably the best ever seamer to wear the Sri Lankan jersey, Vaas was a destructor, who was at his best in the 2003 world cup. Vaas ended up with 49 wickets from 31 World Cup games and was a part of the winning team in 1996.

The left arm pacer had an envious average of 21.22 in the world cups, the third-best among all Sri Lankan bowlers. Vaas had best figures of 6/25 and 2 four-wicket hauls.

Chaminda Vaas

#3 Wasim Akram

Matthew Hayden of Australia is bowled by Wasim Akram of Pakistan

The highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket at the time he retired, Akram was a part of the destructive Pakistani line-up which also included Waqar Younis. Akram had 55 world cup wickets in 38 games at an average of 23.84.

The greatest let arm pacer of his era, a maestro of reverse swing, Wasim Akram was an integral part of Pakistan's world cup winning campaign in 1992 and also in 1999 when Pakistan finished as runner-ups. He had 3 four-wicket hauls with a best figure of 5/28.

#2 Muttiah Muralitharan

ICC Cricket World Cup Super Eights - South Africa v Sri Lanka

The wizard from the island nation, having the most number of wickets in both tests and ODIs, stands second in the list of wicket-takers in the World Cups with 68 wickets from 40 matches at an impressive average of 19.63, which is the second best in this list.

Muralitharan was a part of the 1996 winning team, but unfortunately ended up in the losing side in 2007 and 2011 world cups. Murali had four-fers in world ups with a best figure of 4/19.

#1 Glenn McGrath

The greatest seamer of his era, the Aussie pace spearhead was one of the major reasons why Aussies became invincible during his era. McGrath was an integral part of all three world cups which Australia won between 1999 and 2007 and no doubt why he tops this chart.

McGrath picked 71 wickets in just 39 games at an average of 18.20. He was the wrecker in chief in most games in world cups and is fondly remembered for his wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in the 2003 final. With best figure of 7/15, McGrath has 2 four-wicket hauls in World Cups.

Glenn McGrath

The next five names in the list include Lasith Malinga, Alan Donald, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori and Brett Lee. Malinga, who is just 1 wicket behind Zaheer and Srinath, is all set to play the next World Cup and hence has a great chance to break into the top 5. Among the current crop of players, only Tim Southee and Imran Tahir are in the top 25 with 33 and 29 wickets respectively.