Top 5 Bowling Performances in ODI in 2023

2023 was a year for the bowlers, especially in the white-ball format which is known as a grave for bowlers. There have been some astounding performances in 2023 by the bowlers amid the run-fest which changed the course of the game on its head and enthralled the fans with enthralling swing, speed, and spin which sent batsmen packing.

So, as we close the book on another year, where the cricket fans can raise a bat to all the bowlers who lit up the 22 yards. They rocked the shores with their magic, reminding us that the game is equally about cunning with the ball as it is about power with the bat.

As we look at these great bowling moments, each one shows how skilled bowlers can change the game and be remembered in ODI cricket history. Let’s look at the top 5 best ODI performances by bowlers in 2023:

1. Mohammed Shami’s feisty spell in the World Cup 2023 semi-final

In the heart-stopping World Cup semi-final, India needed a hero to defend a big total. This is when Mohammed Shami came to the rescue! He unleashed a fierce bowling storm on the Kiwis at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. India scored a huge 398, but the partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson took New Zealand to a strong position. Shami, though, knew it was crunch time.

He sent back early key players like Conway and Ravindra, putting the Kiwis on the back foot. Shami returned in the later overs and destroyed the rest of the batting line-up, claiming a record-breaking 7 wickets for India! Thanks to his fiery spell, India won with a comfortable 70 runs, booking their place in the World Cup final!

2. Mohammed Siraj’s dreamy spell in the Asia Cup 2023 final

In the one-sided Asia Cup final, Mohammed Siraj’s fiesty spell unleashed havoc on the Sri Lankan batting unit which blew away Sri Lanka like a hurricane and helped India clinch their 7th Asia Cup title.

This might even be the most destructive bowling performance of the year. Siraj, known for his lethal bowling early on, was on top form throughout the match. But his second over was pure magic.

He took out four key Sri Lankan batsmen like dominoes – Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Dhananjaya de Silva – all in seven overs for a measly 21 runs! This wasn’t just good bowling, it was history in the making. His relentless accuracy and swing earned him a record-breaking 6/21, the best bowling performance ever against Sri Lanka in ODI matches.

3. Jofra Archer dismantled South Africa with his ferocious pace

Jofra Archer’s career has been marred with injuries which have not allowed him to achieve his full potential, but whenever he has been fit he has shown his prowess with the ball. Archer came back from injury like a lion returning to the jungle. He wasn’t at his best for long, but in that short time, he roared and soared like a king.

He rocked South Africa with a mind-blowing bowling performance, taking 6 wickets for just 40 runs. Jofra Archer in that match showed what raw pace can do if married with good line and length and he was too much for the South Africans to handle.

4. Joshua Little produces the best bowling performance for Ireland in ODIs

Joshua Little turned heads in the 2nd ODI against Zimbabwe. In Harare, on December 15th, he broke the backbone of Zimbabwe’s batting order with 6 wickets for just 36 runs! He sent back big names of Zimbabwe cricket like Tinashe Kamunhukamwe and Sikandar Raza, leaving Zimbabwe reeling.

Courtesy of his amazing skill and precision, they were restricted to a measly 166 runs. This wasn’t just a great day for Little, it was history-making. Not only was it his first time grabbing 5 wickets in an ODI, but it was also the best-ever performance by an Irish bowler in the history of ODI cricket.

5. Kuldeep weaves his magic over Pakistan

India’s spin wizard and premier white-ball spinner Kuldeep Yadav weaved his magic with the ball against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Super-Six match of Asia Cup 2023. He bamboozled their batsmen with his twirling tricks, taking a whopping 5 wickets for just 25 runs.

Pakistan didn’t even know what hit them – Kuldeep was simply unstoppable, a one-man army that crushed their hopes. The Pakistan batters were left dazzled as they weren’t able to pick Kuldeep out of his hands and eventually succumbed to his guile and helped India register their biggest ODI victory over Pakistan.