5 Leg-Spinners With The Best ODI Figures

Leg-spinners have become an important part of the game ever since T20 cricket came into existence. The format has given huge importance to leg-spinners and their ability to pick up key wickets. More and more leg spinners are taking to the game knowing that they will succeed at the international level. Shane Warne, Anil Kumble started the legacy which is now carried forward by the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, Imran Tahir, Adam Zampa amongst others.

The veterans like Warne, Kumble and Shahid Afridi in the past have weaved their magic and bamboozled many top-order batsmen which are now taken forward by the promising names around world cricket.

Leg-spinners are strike bowlers for their captains and in this article, we will list down the best ODI figures by them.

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5 Leg-Spinners With The Best ODI Figures

Sandeep Lamichhane- 6-16 vs USA

The Nepal leg spinner took 6/ 16 against the USA in an ICC Cricket World Cup League Two game. He bowled just six overs from his quota of 10 and got those si wickets. USA were bowled out for 35 with their opener X Marshall top-scoring with 16.

Nepal chased the target down inside six overs with their skipper Paras Khadka scoring an unbeaten 20 and Deependra Singh 15*.

Also Read: Ranking 10 Best Death Bowlers In World Cricket

Anil Kumble- 6-12 vs West Indies

Anil Kumble’s spell of 6/12 is still among the best ODI figures in world cricket. The former Indian skipper retired way back in 2008 but the record is still intact. His spell came in the Hero Cup final way back in 1993.

India scored 225/7 batting first in the final and then Kumble produced a matchwinning spell to help his side win the game by 102 runs which in those days was a huge margin of victory. Kumble dismissed the likes of Carl Hooper, Jimmy Adams and he cleaned up the tail as well.

Imran Tahir- 7-45 vs West Indies

Tahir’s best spell came against the Windies as well. South Africa scored 343/4 with Hashim Amla scoring a century and Quinton De Kock and Faf Du Plessis scoring fifties, Chris Morris chipped in with a quickfire 40 as well.

The Windies were bowled out for 201 chasing that score with Tahir picking up seven wickets. Tahir’s scalps included Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels, Jason Holder, and Carlos Brathwaite.

Rashid Khan- 7-18 vs West Indies

Rashid’s spell against the Windies came back in 2017. He was still a newbie in international cricket but was talented nonetheless. Afghanistan scored 212/6 batting first.

In reply, the Windies were bowled out for 149 inside 45 overs with Rashid Khan wreaking havoc in the Windies batting line-up. He picked up seven wickets in less than 10 overs of his spell. Rashid dismissed the likes of Jason Holder, Shai Hope amongst the others. The Afghans won the contest by 63 runs with Rashid sweeping the Man of the Match award.

Shahid Afridi- 7-12 vs West Indies

Afridi’s spell of 7/12 culminates the list of le-spinners with the best figures in ODI cricket. Afridi’s spell came way back in 2013 in a match to remember for the former Pakistan skipper.

First, he scored 76 off 55 balls coming into bat at number seven taking Pakistan to 224 after their 50 overs. Then took a career-best of 7/12 from nine overs to bowl out the opposition for just 98. Only three batsmen got to double figures in the entire West Indies batting lineup as Pakistan won the match by 126 runs. Afridi dismissed the likes of Lendl Simmons, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder amongst others.

Also Read: Team Wise Most Appearances By A Player In IPL History