One-day cricket is one of the most significant formats in world cricket. In modern-day cricket, there is a slight advantage for batters, which makes the role of a bowler even tougher. Bowling, along with captaincy, is a rare sight on the field, with batters preferred for captaincy mostly. However, certain bowlers from the likes of Imran Khan to Pat Cummins had gained success as captain. So, in this article, we will discuss 'Top 10 Best Bowling Figures by a Captain in ODI'.
1. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis was probably one of the most lethal fast bowlers in World cricket who could easily make it into any all-time team in One-Day Internationals. Waqar bowled one of the best spells of his career against England in the Natwest Series. Waqar took seven wickets and offered only 36 runs in his ten-over at an economy of only 3.6. He took critical wickets of Vaughan, Stewart, Trescothick, and Collingwood and limited England to only 156.
2. Viv Richards
Viv Richards was probably one of the most destructive batters and had the ability of more than decent part-time bowling in World cricket who could easily make it into any all-time team in One-Day Internationals. Richards bowled one of the best spells of his career against India in the Nehru Cup. Batting first, West Indies piled up 196 runs on a tricky pitch. In reply, Richards took six wickets and offered only 41 runs in his 9.4 over at an economy of only 4.24. He took critical wickets of Azharuddin, Amarnath, and Kapil Dev and limited India to only 176.
3. Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo was probably one of the most destructive all-rounders in World cricket, whose batting was more than handy in One-Day Internationals. Bravo bowled one of the best spells of his career against Zimbabwe in a bilateral series. Bravo took six wickets and offered only 43 runs in his ten over at an economy of only 4.3. He took critical wickets of Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, and Craig Ervine and limited Zimbabwe to only 273.
4. Gulbadin Naib
Gulbadin Naib is probably one of the most destructive all-rounders from Afghanistan, whose bowling was more than handy in One-Day Internationals. Naib bowled one of the best spells of his career against Ireland in a bilateral series. Batting first, Afghanistan piled up 305 runs on a road of a pitch, with Shahzad smacking a ton. In the second innings, Naib took six wickets and offered only 43 runs in 9.2 overs at an economy of only 4.60. He took critical wickets of Stirling, Balbirine, and Kevin O'Brien and limited Ireland to only 179.
5. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis was probably one of the most lethal fast bowlers in World cricket who made his way into this list again. Waqar bowled one of the best spells of his career against Australia in the NatWest Series. Batting first, Australia piled up 290 runs on a tricky pitch. In the second innings, Waqar took six wickets and offered 59 runs in his eight-over at an economy of 7.37. He took critical wickets of Waugh, Hayden, Bevan, and Symonds and limited Australia to only 254.
6. Daniel Vettori
Daniel Vettori was probably one of the most balanced all-rounders from New Zealand, whose batting was more than handy in One-Day Internationals. Vettori bowled one of the best spells of his career against Bangladesh in a bilateral series. Vettori took five wickets and offered only seven runs in his six overs at an economy of only 1.16. He took critical wickets of Aftab, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mushfiqur Rahim and limited Bangladesh to only 93.
7. Greg Chappell
Greg Chappell was probably one of the most classical all-rounders from Australia, whose bowling was more than handy in One-Day Internationals. Chappell bowled one of the best spells of his career against India in the Benson & Hedges World Series. In the first innings, Chappell took five wickets and offered 15 runs in 9.5 overs at an economy of 1.52. He took critical wickets of Binny, Gavaskar, and Yashpal Sharma and limited India to only 63. Notably, he took another five-wicket-haul as captain in ODI.
8. Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram was probably one of the most lethal fast bowlers in World cricket who could easily make it into any all-time team in One-Day Internationals. Wasim bowled one of the best spells of his career against Zimbabwe in a bilateral series. Wasim took five wickets and offered only 15 runs in his seven-over at an economy of only 2.14. He took critical wickets of Flower, Campbell, and Heath Streak and limited Zimbabwe to only 143. Notably, he took another five-wicket-haul as captain in ODI.
9. Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi was probably one of the most destructive all-rounders in World cricket who could easily make it into any all-time team of Pakistan in One-Day Internationals. Afridi bowled one of the best spells of his career against Kenya in the 2011 ICC World Cup. Batting first, Pakistan piled up 317 runs on a road of a pitch. In the second innings, Afridi took five wickets and offered only 16 runs in his eight-over at an economy of only 2. He took critical wickets of Collins Obuya, Jimmy Kamande, and Tanmay Mishra and limited Kenya to only 112.
10. Rohan Mustafa
Rohan Mustafa is probably one of the most destructive all-rounders from the United Arab of Emirates in One-Day Internationals. Mustafa bowled one of the best spells of his career against Papua New Guinea in a bilateral series. Batting first, UAE piled up 251 runs on a tricky pitch, with Mustafa smacking a ton. In the second innings, Mustafa took five wickets and offered only 25 runs in 8.2 overs at an economy of only 3. He took critical wickets of Vani Morea, Sese Bau, and Dogodo Bau and limited PNG to only 148.
