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Regarded as one of the greatest spinners of all time, Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan dominated world cricket in an illustrious career spanning nearly two decades. Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker of all time in both Tests and ODIs and remains the only bowler to have picked up a staggering 800 wickets in the longest format of the game.
Muralitharan, who made batters dance to his tunes with his spin wizardry, holds the record for the most wickets by any bowler in international cricket with an impressive 1347 wickets in 495 matches across formats. The legendary spinner shattered multiple records on his way to becoming the leading wicket-taker in international cricket and played a key role in Sri Lanka's success during his playing days.
Muralitharan continues to hold the record for being the fastest to 500 wickets in ODIs, having achieved the feat in 324 matches, and the fastest to 800 wickets in Tests, having reached the milestone in 133 matches. He bowled a staggering 44039 deliveries in his international career, which is the most by any bowler in the world.
Muralitharan was part of Sri Lanka's World Cup-winning team in 1996 and played an important role with the ball in his team's memorable triumph. He was also instrumental in helping Sri Lanka reach their final of the 2011 ODI World Cup, where they lost against MS Dhoni-led India. Muralitharan is Sri Lanka's most successful bowler in ODI World Cup history.
Muttiah Muralitharan is the second-highest wicket-taker of all time in ODI World Cup history with 68 wickets from 40 matches at an average of 19.63 and an excellent economy rate of 3.88, including four 4-wicket hauls. He stands only behind former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath (71) in the elite list of highest wicket-takers in ODI World Cup.
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is in the 3rd spot behind Muralitharan with 65 wickets in 28 matches in the ODI World Cup so far. Muralitharan is also Sri Lanka's leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cup with 68 wickets. The legendary off-spinner made his ODI World Cup debut in 1996, where he picked up 7 wickets in six matches to help Sri Lanka lift their maiden title.
Muralitharan played his second ODI World Cup for Sri Lanka in the 1999 edition where he failed to make much of an impact as he managed only 6 wickets in 5 matches. Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the semi-finals in the 1999 World Cup.
Muralitharan finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in the 2003 World Cup with 17 wickets in 10 matches as the Asian giants reached the semi-finals of the tournament. Muralitharan enjoyed his best-ever World Cup campaign in 2007, where he picked up 23 wickets in 10 matches to power Sri Lanka into the final, where they lost against a dominant Australian side.
Muralitharan played his final ODI World Cup in 2011, where he finished as the highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka with 15 wickets from 9 matches at an average of 19.40 and an economy of 4.09. His bowling heroics helped Sri Lanka qualify for their second straight final in 2011, but they lost to India to miss out on a chance to lift their second ODI World Cup title.
