Asia Cup (ODI format) was first held in 1984. Since then, this continental championship has been held biennially. Many great bowling performances have surfaced in the history of the Asia Cup as players strive to give their absolute best to meet the expectations of their fans. In this blog, we will enlist the 10 bowlers with the most wickets in Asia Cup history.
Without wasting any time, let’s dig in!
Top 10 Bowlers With The Most Wickets in Asia Cup History
The following table consists of the list of bowlers with most wickets in Asia Cup History:
| PLAYER | WICKETS | MATCHES | ECONOMY | AVERAGE | STRIKE RATE | BEST FIGURES | 4Ws | 5Ws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 30 | 24 | 3.75 | 28.83 | 46.06 | 5/31 | 1 | 1 |
| Lasith Malinga | 29 | 14 | 4.65 | 20.55 | 26.51 | 5/34 | 1 | 3 |
| Ajantha Mendis | 26 | 8 | 3.98 | 10.42 | 15.69 | 6/13 | 2 | 2 |
| Saeed Ajmal | 25 | 12 | 4.21 | 19.4 | 27.6 | 3/26 | 0 | 0 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 25 | 20 | 4.34 | 26.28 | 36.28 | 4/29 | 2 | 0 |
| Chaminda Vaas | 23 | 19 | 4.19 | 27.78 | 39.93 | 3/30 | 0 | 0 |
| Irfan Pathan | 22 | 12 | 5.54 | 27.5 | 29.77 | 4/32 | 1 | 0 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 22 | 25 | 4.48 | 30.31 | 40.59 | 4/49 | 1 | 0 |
| Abdur Razzak | 22 | 18 | 4.67 | 36.18 | 46.45 | 3/17 | 0 | 0 |
| Shakib ul Hasan | 22 | 18 | 4.74 | 36.95 | 46.68 | 4/42 | 1 | 0 |
1. Muttiah Muralitharan
The legendary Sri Lankan spinner leads this list with 30 wickets in 24 matches. Muttiah, better known as “Murali” bowled at an economy of 3.75 and took a wicket for every 28.83 runs that he conceded.
He has one 5-wicket-haul and one 4-wicket-haul to his name as well. He was the 2nd highest wicket-taker (with 11 wickets) in the 2008 Asia Cup edition and 5th highest in the 1995 Asia Cup edition.
The classy off-spinner’s best figures in this continental tournament were against Bangladesh in 2008. He took 5 wickets for only 31 runs and helped his team advance to the competition’s final.
2. Lasith Malinga
The former Sri Lankan pacer lands on the 2nd spot in this esteemed list of bowlers with the most wickets in Asia Cup history. Malinga picked up 29 wickets in his Asia Cup career, which lasted from 2004 to 2018.
With one 4-wicket-haul and three 5-wicket-hauls to his name, Lasith’s economy in this tournament was an amazing 4.65. Known for his unique bowling style, Malinga took a wicket after every 26.51 balls in Asia Cup matches.
He also holds the record for being the leading wicket-taker twice in this tournament’s history. Once in the 2010 Asia Cup (with 9 wickets) and once in the 2014 Asia Cup (with 11 wickets). The right-arm fast bowler’s best figures in this tournament were 5/34 against Pakistan in 2010.
3. Ajantha Mendis
The iconic Sri Lankan superstar snaffled 26 wickets in Asia Cup history at an outstanding economy of 3.98. Despite participating in only 8 Asia Cup matches, Mendis has two 4-wicket-hauls and two 5-wicket-hauls in his bag.
The mystery spinner bowled at an average of 10.42, and his best figures in Asia Cup history are 6/13 against India in the tournament’s final in 2008. His admirable performance played a significant role in helping his team win the championship.
Ajantha currently also enjoys the record for having the best figures in an innings in Asia Cup history for this awe-inspiring spell. He was also named the leading wicket-taker (with 17 wickets) in the 2008 edition and 3rd leading wicket-taker (with 9 wickets) in the 2014 edition.
4. Saeed Ajmal
The renowned Pakistani spinner is at the 4th spot on this list of bowlers with the most wickets in Asia Cup history. Ajmal picked up 25 wickets at a superb average of 19.40.
The legendary spinner represented his team in the Asia Cup from 2008 to 2014. His bowling strike rate was 27.60, and he conceded only 4.21 runs per over that he bowled.
Known as the “King of Doosra,” Ajmal was the 2nd leading wicket-taker in two editions of this continental championship. Once in 2012 (with 8 wickets) and once in 2014 (with 11 wickets). His best bowling figures of 3/26 were produced against Sri Lanka in 2014.
5. Ravindra Jadeja
The Indian left-arm spinner took 25 wickets in 18 innings of the Asia Cup that he participated in. Jadeja bowled at an economy of 4.34 and has two 4-wicket-hauls to his name.
Ravindra’s Asia Cup stats also include a decent average of 26.28 and a strike rate of 36.28. With 7 wickets, Jadeja finished the 2018 Asia Cup as the fifth-highest wicket-taker. His best figures in his Asia Cup career so far are 4/29 against Bangladesh in 2018.
6. Chaminda Vaas
The left-arm seamer is considered one of the most successful Sri Lankan bowlers of all time. Chaminda picked up 19 wickets in his Asia Cup career, which lasted from 1995 to 2008. He bowled at a strike rate of 39.73 and gave only 4.19 runs for an over that he bowled.
Vaas holds the record for the 5th leading wicket-taker in the 1993 Asia Cup with 5 wickets. His best figures in the history of this continental tournament are 3/30. These amazing numbers were produced against Bangladesh in the 2004 edition of the Asia Cup.
7. Irfan Pathan
The talented Indian swing and seam bowler snaffled 22 wickets in the 4 editions of the Asia Cup that he participated in. Irfan bowled at an economy of 5.54 and took a wicket for every 27.5 runs that he gave.
The left-arm fast bowler holds the record for taking the most wickets (14) in the 2004 Asia Cup. His 4/32 against Sri Lanka in 2012 are his best figures in the history of this championship. His Asia Cup stats also include a 4-wicket haul and a strike rate of 40.59.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya
The classy Sri Lankan all-rounder finds himself at the 8th spot in this list of bowlers with the most wickets in Asia Cup history. Jayasuriya took 22 wickets at a strike rate of 40.59. The left-arm orthodox spinner bowled at an incredible economy of 4.48 and took a wicket every 30.31 runs that he gave.
He was the 4th leading wicket-taker in the 1990 Asia Cup and the 3rd leading wicket-taker in the 1997 Asia Cup (with 6 wickets). Sanath’s best figures in his Asia Cup career are 4/49.
9. Abdur Razzak
The former Bangladeshi left-arm spinner took 22 wickets in his 10-year Asia Cup career. Razzak participated in 18 matches and bowled consistently at an economy of 4.67.
In fact, he holds the record for having the 2nd best economy in the history of this fierce competition. Razzak’s Asia Cup career-best stats are 3/17, and he grabbed a wicket per 46.45 balls he delivered.
10. Shakib ul Hasan
The legendary all-rounder who captains Bangladesh in all formats, Shakib, concludes this prestigious list with 22 wickets. The Bangladeshi skipper bowled at a 3rd-best Asia Cup history economy of 4.74.
He has one 4-wicket haul to his name and took a wicket after every 46.68 deliveries that he bowled. The left-arm orthodox spinner’s best figures in the history of the Asia Cup are 4/42.
Conclusion
Sri Lankan bowlers heavily dominate this list of bowlers with the most wickets in Asia Cup History. 5 out of 10 listed bowlers are from Sri Lanka, 2 from India, 2 from Bangladesh, and 1 from Pakistan.
Experienced campaigners like Ravindra Jadeja and Shakib ul Hasan have not yet parted ways with International cricket. With their deadly form and passion, it won’t be a surprise if they climb up the list in the near future.
