January 27, 2025: Jasprit Bumrah has been crowned the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2024 following an exceptional year in red-ball cricket. His incredible performance has been recognized as he emerged as the standout bowler of the year, excelling in both home and away conditions, and playing a pivotal role in India’s strong campaign in the ICC World Test Championship.
Bumrah made a successful return to Test cricket in late 2023 after a lengthy absence due to a back injury. In 2024, he was unstoppable, amassing a remarkable 71 wickets—leading the Test cricket charts by a significant margin. He topped the leaderboard, finishing ahead of England’s Gus Atkinson, who took 52 wickets in 11 matches. Bumrah bowled a staggering 357 overs throughout the year, maintaining a phenomenal bowling average of just 14.92—an outstanding figure in today’s high-scoring era of Test cricket.
His performances were spread across multiple memorable series. At home, he helped India secure series wins over England and Bangladesh. He also stepped up during crucial away tours to South Africa and Australia, where he delivered exceptional spells, with his most memorable performances coming in the Border-Gavaskar Series in Australia. Bumrah finished with 32 wickets in five Tests during the series and was named Player of the Series for his outstanding contributions.
His performance in the first Test of the series in Perth was a standout. Despite India’s batting collapse, Bumrah led the team from the front, taking 5/30 to change the course of the match and then contributing with three more wickets in the second innings, sealing a famous 295-run victory. His brilliant performances helped him cross 200 Test wickets and solidified his place among India’s finest fast bowlers, with an incredible average of 19.4 for players who have taken at least 200 Test wickets.
Bumrah’s 71-wicket haul in 2024 places him among the greats of the game, joining an elite group of Indian bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, and Kapil Dev to take more than 70 wickets in a calendar year. His remarkable consistency and skill have made him a force to be reckoned with in world cricket, earning him the well-deserved ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year award.