This article explores the most remarkable bowling spells by ODI skippers. The table highlights the records and statistical match-wise milestones of captains in ODI cricket.
Best Bowling Figures by Captains in ODIs
| Player | Bowling Figures | Overs Bowled | Economy | Innings | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | 7/36 | 10.0 | 3.6 | 1 | England | Leeds | 17 Jun 2001 |
| Viv Richards (WI) | 6/41 | 9.4 | 4.24 | 2 | India | Delhi | 23 Oct 1989 |
| Dwayne Bravo (WI) | 6/43 | 10.0 | 4.3 | 1 | Zimbabwe | St George’s | 24 Feb 2013 |
| Gulbadin Naib (AFG) | 6/43 | 9.2 | 4.6 | 2 | Ireland | Belfast | 21 May 2019 |
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | 6/59 | 8.0 | 7.37 | 2 | Australia | Nottingham | 19 Jun 2001 |
| Daniel Vettori (NZ) | 5/7 | 6.0 | 1.16 | 1 | Bangladesh | Queenstown | 31 Dec 2007 |
| Greg Chappell (AUS) | 5/15 | 9.5 | 1.52 | 1 | India | Sydney | 8 Jan 1981 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 5/15 | 7.0 | 2.14 | 1 | Zimbabwe | Karachi | 24 Dec 1993 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 5/16 | 6.1 | 2.59 | 2 | South Africa | East London | 15 Feb 1993 |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 5/16 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 2 | Kenya | Hambantota | 23 Feb 2011 |
Key Insights on Record-Breaking Bowling Performances by ODI Captains
All-Time Best Bowling Figures and Wicket-Taking Records
Waqar Younis holds the record for the best bowling figures by a captain in ODIs, with 7 for 36 against England in 2001.
Dwayne Bravo recorded the best figures for a captain in a home match, taking 6 for 43 against Zimbabwe in 2013.
Wasim Akram has the most wickets as an ODI captain, with 158 scalps at an average of 22.63.
Other captains with 100-plus ODI wickets include Shaun Pollock (134), Imran Khan (131), Mashrafe Mortaza (102), and Jason Holder (101).
Wasim Akram also leads with the most four-wicket hauls as captain, totaling 11.
Shaun Pollock (6), Waqar Younis (5), and Jason Holder (5) are the only other skippers with five or more four-wicket hauls.
See who tops the overall record for most ODI 4-wicket hauls.
Age Milestones and Notable Five-Wicket Hauls
Waqar Younis, one of the legendary cricketers to debut before 20, is the only captain to achieve three five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket.
Kapil Dev is the youngest captain to take a five-wicket haul, achieving 5 for 43 at the age of 24 years and 158 days. Remember, Kapil Dev is also the youngest captain to win an ODI World Cup.
Viv Richards is the oldest captain to take a five-for, claiming 6 for 41 at the age of 37 years and 230 days.
Rohan Mustafa holds the best figures for an associate nation captain with 5 for 25 against Papua New Guinea in 2017.
Check: Players with 100 Runs and 10 Wickets in a Match in Test Cricket
Iconic All-Round Performances and Losing Cause Stats
Viv Richards was the first captain to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same ODI (119 runs and 5/41).
Rohan Mustafa is the only other captain to achieve a century and a five-for in the same match (109 runs and 5/25).
Sourav Ganguly (71 & 5/34*) and JJ Smit (56 & 5/26) are the other skippers to score fifty-plus runs and take five wickets in one match.
Greg Chappell holds the record for best bowling figures in a losing cause as captain, with 5 for 20 against England in 1977.
Sanath Jayasuriya (5/28), Gerhard Erasmus (5/34), Shaun Pollock (5/37), Waqar Younis (5/38), and Kapil Dev (5/43) have all taken five-wicket hauls in matches where their team lost.
Jason Holder delivered the most expensive spell by an ODI captain, conceding 104 runs (1/104) against South Africa in 2015, including 64 runs in his final two overs. See overall list of most expensive ODI spells here.