When it comes to the most wickets in women’s ODI cricket, one name stands alone: Jhulan Goswami’s 255 wickets for India, a record built across two decades of new-ball mastery. Behind her, a fascinating mix of retired legends and active stars — including two Indians still climbing — makes up the all-time top 10.
Here is the definitive list, plus every seven-wicket haul in women’s ODI history.
Most Wickets in Women’s ODIs – All-Time Top 10
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jhulan Goswami | India | 204 | 255 | 6/31 | 22.04 |
| 2 | Shabnim Ismail | South Africa | 127 | 191 | 6/10 | 19.95 |
| 3 | Marizanne Kapp | South Africa | 162 | 181 | 5/20 | 24.24 |
| 4 | Cathryn Fitzpatrick | Australia | 109 | 180 | 5/14 | 16.79 |
| 5 | Anisa Mohammed | West Indies | 141 | 180 | 7/14 | 20.75 |
| 6 | Katherine Sciver-Brunt | England | 141 | 170 | 5/18 | 24.00 |
| 7 | Deepti Sharma | India | 124 | 166 | 6/20 | 27.69 |
| 8 | Ellyse Perry | Australia | 165 | 166 | 7/22 | 25.56 |
| 9 | Stafanie Taylor | West Indies | 182 | 157 | 4/17 | 22.28 |
| 10= | Sana Mir | Pakistan | 120 | 151 | 5/32 | 24.27 |
| 10= | Ayabonga Khaka | South Africa | 121 | 151 | 6/56 | 26.29 |
*Figures verified as of October 2026. Active players’ totals may have shifted slightly since last reported.*
Jhulan Goswami: 255 Wickets and the Gold Standard
Jhulan Goswami’s 255 ODI wickets are the most by any woman — a Guinness World Records entry. From her debut in 2002 to retirement in 2022, she was India’s new-ball spearhead through every era: brisk, relentlessly accurate, and lethal with the inswinger. Her best of 6/31 only hints at the damage; her true weapon was economy (3.37 runs per over across 204 matches) that strangled entire innings.
Pace vs Craft: Ismail, Fitzpatrick and the Quick Brigade
The fastest bowlers dominate the upper reaches. Shabnim Ismail (191) — the quickest woman to bowl in ODIs — pairs raw pace with the best strike rate of the top 10. Cathryn Fitzpatrick (180) has the best average of anyone here: a staggering 16.79, from an era when she simply blew teams away. Anisa Mohammed (180), the off-spinner from West Indies, is the only slow bowler in the top five — and the only one with a seven-wicket haul. Explore the most wickets in women’s ODI cricket history to see how the eras compare.
Every Seven-Wicket Haul in Women’s ODI History
Only seven bowlers have ever taken 7 wickets in a women’s ODI innings:
| Figures | Bowler | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/4 | Sajjida Shah (PAK) | Japan | Amsterdam | 2003 |
| 7/8 | Jo Chamberlain (ENG) | Denmark | Haarlem | 1991 |
| 7/14 | Anisa Mohammed (WI) | Pakistan | Dhaka | 2011 |
| 7/18 | Alana King (AUS) | South Africa | World Cup | 2025 |
| 7/22 | Ellyse Perry (AUS) | England | Canterbury | 2019 |
| 7/24 | Shelley Nitschke (AUS) | England | Kidderminster | 2005 |
| 7/34 | Amelia Kerr (NZ) | Zimbabwe | — | 2026 |
Sajjida Shah’s 7/4 — taken at just 15 years old — remains the best figures ever. The two newest entries, Alana King’s 7/18 at the 2025 World Cup and Amelia Kerr’s 7/34 in 2026, show the art of the big haul is alive and well.
The Active Climbers: Deepti, Perry and Khaka
Three active players sit inside the top 10 and are still adding to their tallies. Deepti Sharma (166) and Ellyse Perry (166) are locked together in seventh — Deepti the crafty Indian off-spinner, Perry the all-time great seamer. Ayabonga Khaka (151) reached her 150th ODI wicket in early 2026 and now shares tenth with Pakistan’s Sana Mir. None of Sophie Ecclestone (~141) or Megan Schutt (~120s) has cracked the top 10 yet — 151 is the current barrier.
If Deepti or Perry pass Katherine Sciver-Brunt’s 170, the battle for the most wickets in women’s ODI cricket will have a new subplot — but Goswami’s 255 is not under threat from anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has taken the most wickets in women’s ODI cricket?
Jhulan Goswami of India holds the record with 255 wickets in 204 ODIs (2002–2022), recognized by Guinness World Records.
What are the best bowling figures in women’s ODI history?
Sajjida Shah of Pakistan holds the record with 7/4 against Japan in Amsterdam in 2003, taken when she was just 15 years and 168 days old.
How many wickets does Deepti Sharma have in ODIs?
Deepti Sharma has 166 ODI wickets, placing her joint-seventh on the all-time list alongside Ellyse Perry.
Who has the best bowling average among the top wicket-takers?
Cathryn Fitzpatrick of Australia averaged just 16.79 across her 180 ODI wickets — the best average in the all-time top 10.
Has anyone taken 7 wickets in a women’s ODI World Cup match?
Anisa Mohammed’s 7/14 against Pakistan came in the 2011 World Cup Qualifier final, while Alana King’s 7/18 against South Africa came at the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Who is the highest active wicket-taker in women’s ODIs?
Deepti Sharma and Ellyse Perry share the honour among active players with 166 ODI wickets each, sitting joint-seventh all-time.
Final Thoughts
The most wickets in women’s ODI cricket span eras and styles: Goswami’s metronomic seam, Ismail’s thunderbolts, Fitzpatrick’s unmatched average, Mohammed’s spin wizardry. With Deepti Sharma and Ellyse Perry still hunting and Khaka freshly into the top 10, the lower half of this table will keep shifting — but 255 at the top looks safe for a long time.
See where today’s stars sit in the ICC women’s cricket rankings page, and watch Jhulan Goswami’s greatest spells to understand how the record was built.
The all-time list of the most wickets in women’s ODI cricket is a roll call of the game’s greatest bowlers — and with active stars still climbing, it will keep evolving.