5 players who could be leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cup 2023

The highly-anticipated ODI World Cup 2023, in India is just less than a month away from now; the marquee international tournament will kick off with the tournament opener between the defending champions England and the runners-up of ODI World Cup 2019, New Zealand. The inaugural match of the tournament will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, there’s also a debate among the fans and experts of the game that there will be some important bowlers who, with their skills and fearless approach, might pose a threat to the batters throughout the tournament.

With that, here we’ll have a look at the 5 bowlers who could end up as the leading wicket-taker of the ODI World Cup 2023.

Mitchell Starc

Whenever it’s about a major international tournament like the World Cup or some other multi-nation tournament at the highest level of the game, the veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc stands tall in comparison to all of the other star bowlers who are set to participate in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023.

With his brilliant and impressive performances with the ball, Mitchell Starc ended up as the leading run-scorer in an ODI World Cup for two consecutive times in 2015 and 2019. Now, he will be looking and practising ahead to make it a hat trick of the most successful bowlers in an edition of the ODI World Cup.

Mark Wood

The entire cricketing fraternity, including the fans, former cricketers and experts of the game was stunned by the consistent and sheer pace of Mark Wood after his comeback in the national side of England. Mark Wood made his way back to the England squad after a long wait as he was going through a recovery from the injury.

Speaking of Wood’s performance in the ODI World Cup, he was also on the list of leading-wicket takers in the last edition, played in 2019 in England. He scalped 18 wickets in 10 innings of the 10 matches, he played for The Three Lions in the tournament.

Mohammed Siraj

The star Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has emerged as one of the key elements in the Indian bowling attack since his ODI debut four years back in the year 2019. Since then, he has scalped 46 wickets in the 25 innings of the 26 matches, he played for India, including the best figures of 4/32.

Siraj is currently in action with Team India in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023; recently, he also claimed three wickets in India’s last group-stage match against Nepal. Considering his wicket-taking abilities, it can be said that the 29-year-old may get his name as the highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023.

Haris Rauf

One of the most threatening bowlers in World cricket at the moment, Haris Rauf has left most of the batters in fear with his fiery skills with the ball and the consistency of raw pace. Rauf is mostly known for keeping his average speed above the mark of 143 kph or around 145 kph.

Currently, the Pakistan star is in a sensational run of form with the ball as he has scalped 14 wickets in the last 5 appearances, including 9 wickets in just 3 matches of the Asia Cup 2023, he played so far. The 29-year-old is one of the prime contenders to lead the chart of highest wicket-takers of ODI World Cup 2023.

Kagiso Rabada

The veteran South African pacer Kagiso Rabada is currently in action with his side in the ongoing three-match ODI series against Australia. Recently, he scalped 2 wickets in the first of the three-match ODI series. Apart from that, he also had a good run form in the franchise cricket leagues, scalping 8 wickets in his last four appearances during the Major League Cricket.

Since his debut 8 years back in the year 2015, Rabada has scalped 139 wickets in 88 innings of the 90 ODIs. Owing to his experience and the current momentum with the ball, he can top the chart of the highest wicket-takers in the biggest showdown of cricket.