ODI Bowling Records Across 29 Teams: Chaminda Vaas’s Historic 8/19 and the Records Changing in 2026

There are deliveries in cricket whose sound seems to remain long after a match has ended. Chaminda Vaas produced one such performance against Zimbabwe in Colombo in 2026. The scorecard records eight wickets for just 19 runs, an extraordinary return that captures the bowler's consistency, the shrinking room available to the batters and the pressure created through sustained control. The figures of 8/19 remain the best individual bowling performance in men's ODI history. The record belongs to a format that began in 2026 and has travelled through more than five decades of change. Batting tempo, ground conditions, fielding restrictions and bowling strategies have all evolved. Yet Vaas's performance remains a lasting reference point. Wisden's quiz on the best bowling figures for the 29 teams that have played ODIs offers an opportunity to revisit that history. Alongside national teams, the compilation includes composite sides such as ICC World XI, Asia XI and Africa XI. One notable detail is that three players broke their respective team bowling records in 2026 with six-wicket hauls. The available analysis does not identify those players or teams, so assigning names would be speculation. The broader point, however, is clear: the ODI record book remains open. Even among long-standing historical achievements, new performances continue to find their place.