Top 5 bowlers with most wickets in India vs South Africa ODIs

By Ravi - Dec 01, 2025 04:13 PM
Last updated on Dec 01, 2025 04:13 PM

India vs South Africa matches aren't just memorable for their world-class bowling contests. In India vs South Africa ODI matches, the contest often revolves around a mix of talented bowlers who constantly challenge the conditions, match situations, and top-order quality of both teams. Celebrating nearly 35 years of India vs South Africa ODI cricket, here's a look at the five most successful bowlers whenever these two teams have met in 50-over internationals.

1. Shaun Pollock – 48 wickets

All-time great Shaun Pollock, with 393 ODI wickets to his name, took 48 wickets against Team India in just 33 innings between 1996 and 2006. Pollock had a bowling average of 24.47 and an economy of just 4.04, and he shone in his India career with one five-wicket haul and one four-wicket haul. Apart from being the most successful bowler in India vs South Africa ODI history, Shaun Pollock also scored 238 runs against them in this format at a lower-order batting average of around 22.

2. Allan Donald – 46 wickets

South Africa's fearsome fast bowler Allan Donald took 46 ODI wickets in just 26 matches against India, his most against any single team. Donald played for India between 1991 and 2002, conceding runs at an economy rate of just 4.05 and averaging 21.15. He rattled the Indian batting order with figures of 5-29 at a packed Eden Gardens in Kolkata in November 1991, delivering one of his finest ODI performances.

3. Anil Kumble – 46 wickets

Anil Kumble remains India's most successful spinner in ODIs against South Africa. The legendary leg-spinner took 46 ODI wickets in 39 innings against South Africa, averaging 32 and having an economy rate of just 3.94. Even when Kumble struggled to take wickets, he ensured that he stemmed South Africa's run-flow, as evidenced by his tight economy. Anil Kumble remains India's most successful bowler against South Africa in ODI cricket, followed by Harbhajan Singh with 31 wickets.

4. Dale Steyn – 34 wickets

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn tormented India throughout his career in both Tests and ODIs. In ODIs, the former cricketer took 34 Indian wickets in just 18 innings at an impressive average of 22.44 and an economy rate of just 4.95, a true testament to his formidable bowling ability in the era of batting-friendly ODI rules and high-scoring pitches. Dale Steyn took his only five-wicket haul against India in Nagpur during the 2011 World Cup, where his 5-50 reduced the hosts from 267-1 to 296 all out.

5. Lance Klusener – 31 wickets

Legendary South African all-rounder Lance Klusener took 31 wickets against India, the most against a single team in his 192 ODI career. The cricketer achieved this feat in just 20 innings of 23 matches, maintaining an impressive bowling average of just 24.03, his second-best against a Test-playing nation after Pakistan. Lance Klusener took five of these wickets in a single match, in the first match of the South Africa ODI Tri-Series in Bloemfontein in 1997, where he took match-winning figures of 5-42.

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