Who took the most wickets in a single Cricket World Cup edition (27 in 2015)?

Mitchell Starc holds the record for the most wickets in a single Cricket World Cup edition, taking 27 for Australia in 2019. The question’s parenthetical is incorrect: Starc took 27 wickets in 2019, not 2015.

Starc’s 2019 campaign included a tournament-best five-wicket haul against New Zealand and made him one of the defining bowlers of the competition. His left-arm pace, late swing and ability to strike with the new ball made him a constant threat throughout Australia’s run to the semi-finals.

The 2015 edition is a common source of confusion. Starc took 22 wickets that year, but New Zealand’s Trent Boult also took 22, so the tournament wicket-leading honour was shared. Starc was nevertheless named Player of the Tournament in 2015 as Australia won the final against New Zealand.

The 27-wicket record surpassed the previous World Cup benchmark of 26, set by Glenn McGrath for Australia in 2007. Starc’s total also placed him ahead of several famous tournament campaigns by bowlers such as Waqar Younis and Muttiah Muralitharan.