Japrit Bumrah Equals Kapil Dev, Emerges As India’s Leading Bowler In Overseas Conditions

December 15, 2024: Jasprit Bumrah continued to rewrite the record books in 2024 with a stunning performance on Day 2 of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane, further solidifying his position as one of India’s greatest pacers in overseas conditions.

Bumrah was the standout performer for India on Day 2, as the Australian batting duo of Steve Smith and Travis Head piled on the runs. Despite their dominance, Bumrah remained India’s lone threat, dismissing both centurions along with other key wickets. He finished the day with impressive figures of 5/72 from 25 overs, maintaining an economy rate of 2.90. His wickets included those of Smith, Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, and Mitchell Marsh, showing his versatility and ability to strike at crucial moments.

This five-wicket haul marked Bumrah’s 10th outside Asia, surpassing the legendary Kapil Dev’s tally of nine five-wicket hauls in foreign conditions. Bumrah now holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls by an Indian pacer outside Asia. His five-wicket hauls are spread across Australia (3), South Africa (3), West Indies (2), and England (2). In contrast, Kapil Dev’s career includes five fifers in Australia and two each in England and the West Indies.

Additionally, Bumrah’s haul in this match was his eighth five-wicket haul in SENA conditions (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia), further eclipsing Kapil Dev, who took seven such hauls in SENA countries.

Bumrah’s five-wicket haul also elevated him to the third spot for the most five-wicket hauls in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), with nine. He is now tied with Australia’s Pat Cummins, while only Nathan Lyon (10) and India’s Ravichandran Ashwin (11) have more five-wicket hauls in WTC history.

Bumrah’s 2024 has been nothing short of extraordinary. He is the leading wicket-taker in international cricket this year, with 73 wickets in just 20 matches at an average of 13.78 and a best of 6/45. He has taken four five-wicket hauls in this period, with all of them coming in Test matches. In the 12 Tests he has played this year, Bumrah has claimed 58 wickets, the most by any bowler in 2024, at an average of 15.20, highlighting his consistency and dominance across formats.

Bumrah’s performance in Brisbane only cements his case as one of the premier pacers in world cricket, with a reputation for thriving in tough overseas conditions. His ability to deliver in crucial moments and dominate in SENA conditions makes him a key asset for India in Test cricket, and his record-breaking feats have placed him firmly among the all-time greats.