February 26, 2025: India’s star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, was all smiles after a memorable night at the ICC Awards 2024, where he received multiple prestigious honors. Bumrah was awarded the Men’s Cricketer of the Year, the Men’s Test Player of the Year, and was named to both the Men’s Test Team of the Year and the T20I Team of the Year.
“I feel really good. As a child, I’d seen some of my childhood heroes win this (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) award. It’s always a privilege when you get such an honor,” the 31-year-old pacer said in a heartfelt statement after receiving his accolades.
Bumrah had a standout year in 2024, featuring in 21 matches across Tests and T20Is, where he picked up a total of 86 wickets, including 71 in the longest format. He also played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign, contributing significantly with the ball.
Reflecting on the past year, Bumrah shared, “The T20 World Cup which we won is always going to be special and will stay in my memory. Obviously, there have been a lot of learnings this year, especially with the amount of Test cricket we played. It’s been an eventful year, and I’m very happy. Hopefully, better things will follow.”
While Bumrah was recovering from an injury, he took time to speak about the return of his fellow pace compatriot, Mohammed Shami, who made a triumphant comeback after battling a long-term injury. Shami was a key figure in India’s opening win against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy, claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul. Bumrah expressed his happiness for Shami, saying, “I’m really happy for him. He’s had injury struggles for so long, and it takes a toll. But he’s been very positive. His skills have always been there, and the more he plays, the more confidence he’ll get. Hopefully, he’ll help the team move further.”
Bumrah also spoke with excitement about the return of the Champions Trophy, a tournament that had been absent for some time. “The atmosphere is brilliant. The excitement is palpable, and the buzz is incredible. This tournament is back after a long gap, and the start has been good. Hopefully, the matches will get even better, and the competition will become even fiercer,” he concluded.