Jasprit Bumrah named ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year 2024

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been named the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year for 2024, following a remarkable year in the red-ball format, achieving his best-ever annual performance.

Excelling in both home and away conditions, Bumrah was widely regarded as the world’s best bowler in 2024, playing a pivotal role in India’s campaign in the ICC World Test Championship standings.

After a lengthy break due to a back injury, Bumrah made his much-anticipated return to Test cricket in late 2023.

He delivered an extraordinary wicket tally and set numerous records in the longest format of the game.

Stellar 2024 for Jasprit Bumrah

As India secured series victories against England and Bangladesh at home and excelled in challenging away conditions in South Africa and Australia, Bumrah’s contributions with the ball proved indispensable.

Jasprit Bumrah’s Test Record in 2024: 71 wickets from 13 matches

Leading the charts with 71 wickets, well ahead of England’s Gus Atkinson (52 wickets in 11 matches), Bumrah was the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket for 2024.

In a year marked by fast-scoring Test matches, Bumrah defied the trend by bowling an astounding 357 overs and maintaining a remarkable economy rate of just 2.96.

His bowling average of 14.92 and a strike rate of 30.1 were among the best-ever recorded for a calendar year.

Following in the footsteps of Indian legends Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, and Kapil Dev, Bumrah became only the fourth Indian bowler to take more than 70 Test wickets in a single year.

Among the 17 bowlers in Test history to have claimed 70+ wickets in a calendar year, none has done so at an average as low as Bumrah’s.

Memorable Performances

Bumrah’s incredible run began with India’s unforgettable Test victory in Cape Town against South Africa, where he claimed eight wickets across two innings, helping India secure an emphatic eight-wicket win.

This was followed by a dominant performance at home against England, where he took 19 wickets during a five-match Test series that India won 4-1.

However, Bumrah’s crowning achievement came during the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Over five Tests, he amassed an astonishing 32 wickets, earning the title of Player of the Series.

During the Down Under series, Bumrah also became the 12th Indian bowler to surpass 200 Test wickets.

While achieving this milestone, the 31-year-old set a record as the first bowler in Test history to maintain an average of under 20 (19.4) with a minimum of 200 dismissals.

A Legendary Performance in Perth

Among his many outstanding performances, Bumrah’s finest came in the series opener against Australia in Perth.

Taking charge in the absence of full-time skipper Rohit Sharma, Bumrah led from the front, delivering a stunning five-wicket haul (5/30) to dismantle Australia after India were bowled out for just 150 on the opening day.

Bumrah followed this up with another three wickets (3/42) in the second innings, as India completed a historic 295-run victory.

This marked Australia’s first loss at the Perth stadium, with India piling on a massive total of 534 runs to secure a commanding win.

Jasprit Bumrah’s stellar performances in 2024 cemented his legacy as one of the finest bowlers in Test cricket history and a vital asset to Indian cricket.