Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been named the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards 2024. The 31-year-old picked up 71 wickets from 13 test matches in 2024, while Gus Atkinson has 52 wickets from 11 tests.
Bumrah became the sixth Indian after Rahul Dravid (2004), Gautam Gambhir (2009), Virender Sehwag (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016) and Virat Kohli (2018).
With Bumrah emerging as the winner, India equalled Australia’s record for most players to win the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award. Steve Smith (2015, 2017) is the only male cricketer to have won the honour twice in his career.
Dominating the bowling charts in 2024, India’s spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been crowned ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year 💥#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/h8Ppjo2hrv
— ICC (@ICC) January 27, 2025
Bumrah made his return to longest format in late 2023 after an absence due to a back injury. Bumrah delivered a stellar performance and set multiple records. The right arm was instrumental in India’s success in home conditions.
His bowling skills helped Men in Blues to secure series wins against England and Bangladesh. He also troubled batters in challenging conditions in South Africa and Australia.
He bowled 357 overs in the format and maintained an exceptional economy rate of 2.96. His average for the year was extraordinary with 14.92 and ended 2024 with a strike rate of 30.1
He becomes the fourth Indian bowler to take more than 70 test wickets in a calendar year. Followed by Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev and Ravichandran Ashwin he joined the elite list to achieve the feat. Bumrah’s display in tests came during the series opener against Australia in Perth.
Bumrah captained the side to famous win in Perth with the absence of Rohit Sharma. After India dismissed for 150 runs, Bumrah led the way for the stunning comeback, claiming a five-wicket haul with figures of 5/30.
India responded by setting a huge target of 534 runs and secured a 295 runs victory to hand Australia first loss at the venue.
