Australia and India have played many memorable ODI matches, with both teams producing some outstanding bowling performances throughout their rivalry. Taking five wickets in a single innings is one of the biggest achievements for an ODI bowler, especially when it comes against a strong batting line-up such as Australia or India. The Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs feature some of the finest bowling displays produced by players from both teams over different generations.
The Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs include famous names such as Ajit Agarkar, Brett Lee, Sachin Tendulkar, Dennis Fleming, Ravi Shastri, Terry Alderman, Bruce Reid, Ken MacLeay, Kapil Dev and Greg Chappell. Some bowlers managed exactly five wickets, while others went beyond the milestone and claimed six wickets in an innings. Their figures show a mixture of pace, accuracy, attacking bowling and economical spells.
List of 10 Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs
10. Ajit Agarkar

Ajit Agarkar produced one of the most impressive bowling performances in the Australia-India ODI rivalry when he claimed six wickets against Australia at Melbourne on January 9, 2004. Representing India, Agarkar bowled 9.3 overs and dismissed six Australian batters while conceding 42 runs. He also bowled one maiden over and finished with an economy rate of 4.42 runs per over. His six-wicket haul made the performance one of the most significant entries in the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
Agarkar’s performance stands out because he went beyond the five-wicket milestone and removed six members of Australia’s batting order. Taking six wickets against a strong Australian team demonstrated his ability to attack the opposition and create regular breakthroughs. His 6/42 remains one of the memorable Indian bowling performances in the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.3 | 1 | 42 | 6 | 4.42 |
9. Brett Lee

Brett Lee delivered an outstanding fast-bowling performance against India at Adelaide on January 26, 2000. The Australian speedster claimed five wickets from 8.5 overs and conceded only 27 runs. He also bowled one maiden over and finished with an economy rate of 3.05 runs per over. His combination of pace and wicket-taking ability made the spell one of the strongest performances in the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
Lee’s five-wicket haul demonstrated the aggressive style that became a major feature of his international career. He was able to attack India’s batting order while keeping the number of runs conceded under control. Five wickets for only 27 runs from fewer than nine overs is an excellent ODI bowling return and places Lee among the leading performances in the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
| 8.5 | 1 | 27 | 5 | 3.05 |
READ MORE: Top 10 Most Runs Conceded in an Innings by Australia vs India in ODIs
8. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is best known for his extraordinary batting achievements, but the Indian legend also produced several important bowling performances during his international career. Against Australia at Kochi on April 1, 1998, Tendulkar claimed five wickets from 10 overs. He conceded 32 runs, bowled one maiden over and finished with an economy rate of 3.20.
Tendulkar’s five-wicket haul is particularly memorable because it came against one of the strongest batting teams in international cricket. His ability to make a major impact with the ball added another dimension to his contribution in the match. The 5/32 performance remains an important entry in the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs and highlights his all-round cricketing ability.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
| 10.0 | 1 | 32 | 5 | 3.20 |
7. Dennis Fleming

Australian fast bowler Dennis Fleming produced a memorable five-wicket haul against India at the Wankhede Stadium on February 27, 1996. Fleming bowled nine overs and dismissed five Indian batters while conceding 36 runs. He did not bowl a maiden over and finished with an economy rate of 4.00 runs per over. His ability to take wickets regularly made the spell an important contribution for Australia.
Fleming’s 5/36 demonstrated his effectiveness as an attacking fast bowler. Although he conceded more runs than some other bowlers featured in the list, the five wickets gave Australia a major advantage against India’s batting line-up. His performance therefore deserves a place among the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
| 9.0 | 0 | 36 | 5 | 4.00 |
6. Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri produced one of the most economical bowling performances for India against Australia at the W.A.C.A. on December 8, 1991. Shastri claimed five wickets while conceding just 15 runs from 6.5 overs. He also bowled one maiden over and finished with an outstanding economy rate of 2.19 runs per over.
The combination of five wickets and only 15 runs makes Shastri’s spell particularly impressive. He needed fewer than seven overs to complete his five-wicket haul and maintained excellent control throughout the innings. His figures are therefore a major highlight of the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs, especially because of his exceptionally low run tally.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
| 6.5 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 2.19 |
5. Terry Alderman

Terry Alderman delivered an excellent bowling performance for Australia against India at Christchurch on March 3, 1990. He completed his full 10-over spell and claimed five wickets while conceding 32 runs. Alderman also bowled two maiden overs and finished with an economy rate of 3.20, showing strong control throughout his spell.
Alderman’s performance combined wicket-taking ability with economical bowling. Five wickets in 10 overs gave Australia regular breakthroughs, while his 32 runs conceded kept the Indian batting line-up under pressure. His 5/32 is another strong example of the quality featured in the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
| 10.0 | 2 | 32 | 5 | 3.20 |
4. Bruce Reid

Australian fast bowler Bruce Reid recorded five wickets against India at Adelaide on January 26, 1986. Reid bowled 10 overs and dismissed five Indian batters during his spell. He conceded 53 runs and did not bowl a maiden over, finishing with an economy rate of 5.30 runs per over. Despite conceding more runs than several other bowlers on this list, his five wickets made the spell significant.
Reid’s performance shows that a five-wicket haul can remain highly valuable even when the bowler gives away a relatively high number of runs. His ability to remove five Indian batters provided Australia with important breakthroughs. The 5/53 therefore remains part of the historical Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
| 10.0 | 0 | 53 | 5 | 5.30 |
3. Ken MacLeay

Ken MacLeay produced a spectacular six-wicket haul for Australia against India at Nottingham on June 13, 1983. MacLeay bowled 11.5 overs and claimed six Indian wickets while conceding 39 runs. He also delivered three maiden overs and finished with an economy rate of 3.29. His six wickets made the spell one of the most productive bowling performances in the rivalry.
MacLeay’s ability to go beyond the five-wicket mark made his performance especially notable. He consistently broke through India’s batting order while maintaining a respectable economy rate. His 6/39 remains one of the standout Australian performances included in the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
| 11.5 | 3 | 39 | 6 | 3.29 |
READ MORE: Top 10 Highest Partnerships for Australia vs India in ODIs
2. Kapil Dev

India’s legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev produced a memorable five-wicket performance against Australia at Nottingham on June 13, 1983. He bowled his complete 12-over spell and dismissed five Australian batters while conceding 43 runs. Kapil also bowled two maiden overs and recorded an economy rate of 3.58.
Kapil’s performance was important because Australia possessed a strong batting line-up capable of putting pressure on Indian bowlers. His five wickets provided India with crucial breakthroughs and demonstrated his value as both an all-rounder and a frontline bowler. His 5/43 is therefore an important part of the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
| 12.0 | 2 | 43 | 5 | 3.58 |
1. Greg Chappell

Greg Chappell produced one of the most economical bowling performances in an Australia-India ODI at Sydney on January 8, 1981. Playing for Australia, Chappell claimed five Indian wickets while conceding only 15 runs from 9.5 overs. He bowled an outstanding five maiden overs and finished with an economy rate of just 1.52 runs per over.
Chappell’s figures are remarkable because he combined five wickets with an extremely low number of runs conceded. His five maiden overs demonstrate the exceptional control he maintained throughout the innings. Although he is tenth in this countdown, his 5/15 is arguably one of the most economical spells among the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ |
| 9.5 | 5 | 15 | 5 | 1.52 |
The Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs feature several outstanding bowling performances from both sides. Ajit Agarkar and Ken MacLeay are the only two bowlers in this list to claim six wickets, while Brett Lee, Sachin Tendulkar, Dennis Fleming, Ravi Shastri, Terry Alderman, Bruce Reid, Kapil Dev and Greg Chappell all completed five-wicket hauls.
Among these performances, Ajit Agarkar’s 6/42 leads the countdown, while Greg Chappell’s 5/15 is the most economical spell with an economy rate of only 1.52. Ravi Shastri also conceded just 15 runs, while Brett Lee’s 5/27 and Ken MacLeay’s 6/39 underline the effectiveness of Australia’s bowlers. Together, these performances make up an important part of the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs and reflect the high standard of bowling seen throughout the rivalry.
FAQs
1. Who has the best five-wicket haul in Australia vs India ODIs?
Ajit Agarkar has the best performance in this list, taking 6 wickets for 42 runs for India against Australia in Melbourne on January 9, 2004.
2. Which Australian bowler took six wickets against India in an ODI?
Ken MacLeay took 6 wickets for 39 runs against India at Nottingham on June 13, 1983, making him one of Australia’s standout performers in the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
3. Who recorded the most economical five-wicket haul in Australia vs India ODIs?
Greg Chappell produced the most economical spell in the list, taking 5 wickets for 15 runs at an economy rate of 1.52 in Sydney on January 8, 1981.
4. Did Sachin Tendulkar take five wickets against Australia in ODIs?
Yes. Sachin Tendulkar took 5 wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs against Australia at Kochi on April 1, 1998. His performance is one of the memorable entries in the Best Five-Wicket Hauls in Australia vs India ODIs.
5. Which bowler took five wickets for only 15 runs against Australia?
Ravi Shastri took 5 wickets for 15 runs from 6.5 overs against Australia at the W.A.C.A. on December 8, 1991. His economy rate was an excellent 2.19.