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

India's star fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has been crowned the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year for 2024, cementing his legacy as one of the finest bowlers of the modern era. In a stellar year, Bumrah scalped an astounding 71 wickets in 13 matches, delivering 357 overs at a remarkable average of 14.92. This feat places him among an elite group of Indian bowlers, joining Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, and Kapil Dev as the only Indian players to take more than 70 Test wickets in a calendar year.

Bumrah’s exceptional performance saw him surpass strong competition from Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis and England's batting duo of Harry Brook and Joe Root to clinch the prestigious honor. His consistency and ability to deliver in both home and away conditions played a pivotal role in keeping India in the hunt for a place in the 2025 World Test Championship Final, although the team narrowly missed out on the title match.

A Year of Unstoppable Performances

Bumrah’s 2024 campaign began with a bang during India’s iconic Test victory against South Africa in Cape Town. He bagged eight crucial wickets, setting the tone for what would be a remarkable year. His dominance continued during India’s 4-1 Test series win over England, where he claimed 19 wickets. The highlight of this series was a nine-wicket haul in Visakhapatnam that helped India secure a series-levelling victory.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia proved to be the crown jewel of Bumrah’s season. In this high-stakes series, he collected an unbelievable 32 wickets in five matches, averaging just 13.06 and striking every 28.37 balls. These performances earned him the Player of the Series award.

During this series, Bumrah also achieved a significant personal milestone, becoming the 12th Indian bowler to surpass 200 Test wickets. Despite his heroics, India fell short, losing the series 3-1. However, Bumrah's individual brilliance stood out, particularly during the Perth Test, where he took eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings, propelling India to a commanding 295-run victory.

A Unique Record in Test Cricket

At 31 years of age, Jasprit Bumrah continues to break barriers and set records. In 2024, he etched his name in the history books by becoming the only bowler with a minimum of 200 Test dismissals to maintain an average below 20 (19.4). This extraordinary statistic highlights his unparalleled precision, skill, and ability to dominate batsmen in any condition.

As India looks to the future, Bumrah’s contributions will remain an inspiration, and his incredible achievements in 2024 have undoubtedly solidified his place among cricketing greats.