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Top 10 Best Spinners in Cricket History and Today (2026 Rankings)

Muttiah Muralitharan stands out as the finest spinner ever, claiming 800 Test wickets and 534 ODI dismissals. His mastery of the doosra baffled batsmen worldwide. Following him are Shane Warne with 708 Test wickets and Anil Kumble with 619, both leg-spin legends. Among active players, Ravichandran Ashwin (537 Test wickets) and Nathan Lyon (562 Test wickets) lead, with Ravindra Jadeja notable for his 325 Test scalps. These rankings blend ICC ratings, bowling averages, and adaptability across formats, focusing on bowlers who rise in crucial matches and varying conditions. Emerging stars like Rashid Khan and Kuldeep Yadav also leave their mark.

Top 10 Spinners in Cricket History

  • Rank: 1 | Player: Muttiah Muralitharan | Country: Sri Lanka | Spinner Type: Off-spin | Total Matches: 495 | Total Wickets: 1,347
  • Rank: 2 | Player: Shane Warne | Country: Australia | Spinner Type: Leg-spin | Total Matches: 339 | Total Wickets: 1,001
  • Rank: 3 | Player: Anil Kumble | Country: India | Spinner Type: Leg-spin | Total Matches: 403 | Total Wickets: 956
  • Rank: 4 | Player: Ravichandran Ashwin | Country: India | Spinner Type: Off-spin | Total Matches: 287 | Total Wickets: 765
  • Rank: 5 | Player: Harbhajan Singh | Country: India | Spinner Type: Off-spin | Total Matches: 367 | Total Wickets: 711
  • Rank: 6 | Player: Daniel Vettori | Country: New Zealand | Spinner Type: Left arm Orthodox | Total Matches: 442 | Total Wickets: 705
  • Rank: 7 | Player: Ravindra Jadeja | Country: India | Spinner Type: Left arm Orthodox | Total Matches: 360 | Total Wickets: 610
  • Rank: 8 | Player: Nathan Lyon | Country: Australia | Spinner Type: Off-spin | Total Matches: 167 | Total Wickets: 583
  • Rank: 9 | Player: Shahid Afridi | Country: Pakistan | Spinner Type: Leg-spin | Total Matches: 524 | Total Wickets: 541
  • Rank: 10 | Player: Rangana Herath | Country: Sri Lanka | Spinner Type: Left arm Orthodox | Total Matches: 181 | Total Wickets: 525

Profiles of Notable Retired Spinners

10. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)

Herath ranks among the best left-arm spinners ever, second only to Muralitharan in Sri Lankan history. Known for subtle variations and pinpoint accuracy, he terrorized batsmen in spin-friendly conditions. With 433 Test wickets, he is the only left-arm spinner to surpass 400 wickets in Tests. He also holds records as the oldest player to reach both 350 and 400 Test wickets for Sri Lanka.

  • Test Matches: 93
  • Test Wickets: 433
  • Best Test Bowling: 14/184
  • Test Average: 28.07
  • Five-wicket hauls / Ten-wicket matches: 34/9
  • ODIs: 71 matches, 74 wickets, best 4/20, avg 31.91
  • T20Is: 17 matches, 18 wickets, best 5/3, avg 20.72

9. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Known for his fearless leg-spin and aggressive style, Afridi bowled with power and precision. Across all formats, he played 524 matches taking 541 wickets, with best ODI figures of 7/12. His ability to challenge top batsmen earned him a place among the best spinners.

  • Test: 27 matches, 48 wickets, best 5/43, avg 35.60
  • ODI: 398 matches, 395 wickets, best 7/12, avg 34.51
  • T20I: 99 matches, 98 wickets, best 4/11, avg 24.44

8. Nathan Lyon (Australia)

Lyon is Australia's leading off-spinner, excelling in tough home conditions. The first Australian off-spinner to reach 500 Test wickets, he grabbed 562 in 139 Tests. His 63 wickets in 2017 alone demonstrated his skill against strong Asian teams.

  • Test: 139 matches, 562 wickets, best 13/154, avg 30.14
  • ODI: 29 matches, 29 wickets, best 4/44, avg 46.00
  • T20I: 2 matches, 1 wicket, best 1/33, avg 48.00

7. Ravindra Jadeja (India)

Jadeja’s accuracy and pace pressure batsmen consistently. Playing over 350 matches, he has taken 610 wickets across formats. His career-best Test figures of 10/110 highlight his threat in longer cricket, while his economical bowling is key in limited overs.

  • Test: 82 matches, 325 wickets, best 10/110, avg 24.86
  • ODI: 204 matches, 231 wickets, best 5/33, avg 35.41
  • T20I: 74 matches, 54 wickets, best 3/15, avg 29.85

6. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)

Vettori, New Zealand’s greatest spinner, combined control and variations effectively. He captained his side and played 18 years internationally, taking 362 Test wickets with 20 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket matches. Post-retirement, he coached successfully in IPL and Australia.

  • Test: 113 matches, 362 wickets, best 12/149, avg 34.36
  • ODI: 295 matches, 305 wickets, best 5/7, avg 31.71
  • T20I: 34 matches, 38 wickets, best 4/20, avg 27.10

5. Harbhajan Singh (India)

Harbhajan was a key figure in Indian cricket with his sharp turn and bounce. His aggressive off-spin helped India win from tough spots. Over 367 matches, he took 711 wickets including 417 in Tests, marked by 25 five-wicket hauls.

  • Test: 103 matches, 417 wickets, best 15/217, avg 32.46
  • ODI: 236 matches, 269 wickets, best 5/31, avg 33.35
  • T20I: 28 matches, 25 wickets, best 4/12, avg 25.32

4. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)

Ashwin retired recently but remains one of the best off-spinners today. Known for his carrom ball and clever variations, he took 537 Test wickets with 37 five-wicket hauls. He excelled in subcontinent conditions and performed well abroad.

  • Test: 106 matches, 537 wickets, best 13/140, avg 24.00
  • ODI: 116 matches, 156 wickets, best 4/25, avg 33.20
  • T20I: 65 matches, 72 wickets, best 4/8, avg 23.22

3. Anil Kumble (India)

Kumble is India’s highest Test wicket-taker, known more for accuracy than massive turn. He uniquely took all 10 wickets in an innings once. With 619 Test wickets and 337 ODIs, he ranks among the best leg-spinners ever.

  • Test: 132 matches, 619 wickets, best 14/149, avg 29.65
  • ODI: 271 matches, 337 wickets, best 6/12, avg 30.89

2. Shane Warne (Australia)

Warne transformed leg-spin and was the first to claim 700 Test wickets. His famous delivery to Mike Gatting remains iconic. He took 708 Test wickets and 293 ODI wickets, inspiring fear among batsmen. Warne also led Rajasthan Royals to their only IPL title.

  • Test: 145 matches, 708 wickets, best 12/128, avg 25.41
  • ODI: 194 matches, 293 wickets, best 5/33, avg 25.73

1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)

Muralitharan tops all with 800 Test wickets, the most in history, and dominated for nearly two decades. Holding the longest time as ICC's number one Test bowler, he combined spin and variations to outfox batsmen regularly.

  • Test: 133 matches, 800 wickets, best 16/220, avg 22.72
  • ODI: 350 matches, 534 wickets, best 7/30, avg 23.08
  • T20I: 12 matches, 13 wickets, best 3/29, avg 22.84

Current Top 10 Spinners in the World

Today's cricket challenges spinners more than ever. Batsmen dominate scoring, but these bowlers persist, taking wickets and controlling runs. The list includes stars from various countries showing their skills in all formats.

  • Rank: 1 | Name: Ravindra Jadeja | Country: India | Spinner Type: Left-arm orthodox | Matches: 360 | Wickets: 610
  • Rank: 2 | Name: Nathan Lyon | Country: Australia | Spinner Type: Off-spin | Matches: 167 | Wickets: 583
  • Rank: 3 | Name: Rashid Khan | Country: Afghanistan | Spinner Type: Leg-spin | Matches: 216 | Wickets: 405
  • Rank: 4 | Name: Kuldeep Yadav | Country: India | Spinner Type: Left-arm wrist spin | Matches: 166 | Wickets: 306
  • Rank: 5 | Name: Keshav Maharaj | Country: South Africa | Spinner Type: Left-arm orthodox | Matches: 146 | Wickets: 299
  • Rank: 6 | Name: Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Country: Bangladesh | Spinner Type: Off-spin | Matches: 193 | Wickets: 334
  • Rank: 7 | Name: Mitchell Santner | Country: New Zealand | Spinner Type: Left-arm orthodox | Matches: 257 | Wickets: 320
  • Rank: 8 | Name: Adam Zampa | Country: Australia | Spinner Type: Leg-spin | Matches: 206 | Wickets: 304
  • Rank: 9 | Name: Ish Sodhi | Country: New Zealand | Spinner Type: Leg-spin | Matches: 199 | Wickets: 266
  • Rank: 10 | Name: Adil Rashid | Country: England | Spinner Type: Leg-spin | Matches: 298 | Wickets: 419

Criteria Used for Ranking Spinners

  • ICC Test Bowling Rankings: Reflects spinner performance in the longest format, emphasizing patience and consistency.
  • ICC ODI Bowling Rankings: Shows effectiveness in white-ball cricket, assessing impact during middle overs.
  • Bowling Average: Runs conceded per wicket, lower averages indicate higher efficiency.
  • Big Match Performances: Ability to influence key games like finals or knockout matches.
  • Format Adaptability: Success across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is boosts ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is the world's best spinner? Muttiah Muralitharan holds that title.
  • Who is the best leg spinner ever? Shane Warne is widely regarded as the best leg spinner.
  • Who is considered a legend spinner? Muralitharan is often called the legend spinner.
  • Who is India's top spinner? Anil Kumble is India's best spinner historically.
  • Which batsman plays spin the best? Brian Lara is known for excelling against spin.
  • Who is the fastest spinner? Shahid Afridi is noted for bowling fast spin deliveries.

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