5 highest wicket-takers in ODIs in 2017

Bowling today is a dying art. Over the past few years, the game has tilted heavily towards the batsmen with the introduction of smaller grounds, heavier bats and flatter pitches. The bowlers have to be consistently on their toes and keep on innovating to bamboozle the batsmen and have any chance of returning respectable figures in any match.

However, at the end of the day, it's the bowlers that really win matches for their teams. No matter the score put up by the team, if the bowlers are not able to pick up the wickets, matches cannot be won. The best bowlers rise up to this challenge and consistently hone their skills to keep on improving.

In 2017, many new bowlers emerged on the scene and took heaps of wickets to make the cricketing world sit up and take note. So, who are the top bowlers this year in ODIs? Let us take a look.

Here is a list of the top 5 wicket-takers in ODIs this year:

#5 Hardik Pandya

Pandya is an asset to the Indian team

The new rockstar of Indian cricket, Hardik Pandya makes his entry at number 5. He won the Man of the Match award on his debut against New Zealand and since then has been an indispensable part of the Indian team. Although known mainly for his clean hitting, his bowling is also very effective. He bowls at a good pace and consistently hits 140 kmph and also has the ability to swing the new ball.

2017 turned out to be a great year for him as he took 29 wickets from the 27 matches that he played. These figures are mightily impressive for someone not considered a regular seamer, but an all-rounder.

Hardik Pandya's ODI record in 2017

He would be looking to carry this good form into 2018 as well.

#4 Liam Plunkett

Liam Plunkett in action for England

Liam Plunkett has had a stop-start career for England since his debut on the tour to Pakistan and India in 2005-06. Every time he has looked to cement his place, he has suffered a loss of form or picked up an injury.

2017 was the year in which he finally cemented his place in the English team albeit in the limited overs format only. Bowling with the new ball, he swings it at a good pace, creating problems for the opposition batsmen. He picked up 36 wickets in the matches he played this year, averaging one for every 22 runs conceded. His best performance of the year came against the West Indies, where he picked up a five-wicket haul.

Plunkett's 2017 ODI record

He would be looking to continue his wicket-taking form in 2018 as well.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is one of the best death bowlers in the world today

Widely considered the best death bowler in the world today Jasprit Bumrah is perhaps the most improved bowler in the last two years. Ever since his debut for India in 2016, in Australia, he has become his side's go-to bowler in the shorter format of the game. Armed with a peculiar action and a very accurate yorker, his variations ensure that batsmen find it very difficult to deal with him.

He picked up 38 wickets in 22 matches this year at an impressive average of 25.92. His best performance of the year came against Sri Lanka when he picked up career-best figures of 5/27.

Bumrah's 2017 ODI record

This young fast bowler would be hoping to continue his wicket-taking exploits in 2018.

#2 Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan in action for Afghanistan.

Rashid Khan's appearance in the top 2 is a testament to the rise of Afghanistan in the world of cricket. He made his debut for Afghanistan as a 17-year-old against Zimbabwe in 2015 and since then has grown by leaps and bounds. The diminutive leg-spinner is not a very big turner of the ball, but keeps the batsmen under pressure with his stump to stump line and very accurate googly.

2017 proved to be very fruitful for him as he picked up 43 wickets despite playing just 16 matches. He picked up a wicket every 16 balls and maintained an astounding economy rate of 3.80. In June, he ripped through the West Indies batting line-up, picking up 7 wickets for 18 runs - the fourth best ODI bowling figures in history.

Rashid Khan's ODI record in 2017

The stock of Rashid Khan is on the rise and he would certainly be looking forward to picking up more wickets in 2018.

#1 Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali during the 2017 Champions Trophy

Pakistan have always been known for producing quality fast bowlers and Hasan Ali is the latest of them. His meteoric rise to the top of the ICC ODI bowlers' rankings is a story in itself. He has a silky smooth action and relies more on his accuracy and variations than raw pace - unlike most of the other Pakistani pace bowlers.

He finished the year with 45 wickets from 18 matches, picking up three five-wicket hauls on the way - the most in the calendar year. His sensational performance led Pakistan to the 2017 Champions Trophy title, where he was also adjudged the Player of the Tournament after picking up 13 wickets in five matches.

Hasan Ali's ODI record in 2017

After a wonderful year he would be looking to carry forward the wonderful legacy of Pakistani pace bowling in 2018 as well.