A momentous occasion in the annals of cricket unfolded on Saturday when Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah etched his name in the record books, achieving what no other Indian pacer has done in over a century. On Day 2 of the intense second Test match against England, Bumrah dazzled the cricketing fraternity with a scintillating six-wicket haul, ending with figures of six for 45.
This stellar performance not only shaped the course of the match but took Bumrah’s wicket tally in the longest format to a remarkable 152 wickets. This milestone is heightened by the fact that Bumrah required a mere 34 Test matches to reach this landmark, crowning him as the fastest Indian pacer to this mark in terms of matches played. His remarkable bowling average of 20.28 is highlighted by an impressive collection of 10 five-wicket hauls throughout his Test career.
Bumrah’s monumental achievement has not gone unnoticed. Beyond the feat of being the fastest Indian pacer to 150 wickets, his performance in the Vizag Test launches him into another stratosphere—boasting the best bowling average in Test cricket among those who have claimed at least 150 wickets in the last 110 years. This significant statistic places him in the top echelon of pace bowlers globally, outshining the legendary West Indies trio of Malcolm Marshal, Joel Garner, and Curtly Ambrose.
These legends of the past paved the paths with enviable bowling averages, but it is Bumrah who now leads the pack, securing the second-best bowling average in Test cricket history and reigning supreme over the past century and a decade. The only bowler with a more exceptional average than him is the legendary English pacer Sydney Barnes, whose average of 16.43 from 27 Test matches between 1901 and 1914 remains untouched.
In the illustrious company of bowlers with a sub-21 bowling average and over 150 Test wickets, Bumrah joins an elite club of only six players, underlining the rarity and significance of his achievement.
The shockwaves of Bumrah’s historic performance were felt far and wide. On the field, England’s Ben Stokes appeared visibly frustrated, as Bumrah unfurled a delivery that left the all-rounder utterly confounded, an episode emblematic of the Indian bowler’s devastating impact on the day. The six-wicket haul at Vizag provided India with a dominant position in the match, reflecting Bumrah’s ability to single-handedly tilt the scales in his team’s favor.
Indeed, Bumrah’s prowess with the red ball has been a tale of unwavering consistency and sheer class. Bursting onto the Test scene in 2018, his unconventional action and potent strikes quickly dismantled opposition batting line-ups, carving a path of dominance that defied traditional cricketing narratives. With an armory that includes lethal yorkers, precise bouncers, and an uncanny ability to swing the ball both ways, Bumrah has become a quintessential figure for the Indian Test side, embodying the spirit of innovation and excellence.
As the cricketing world celebrates Bumrah’s historic moment, his trajectory in the game points to a future where even greater heights seem not just possible, but almost certain. With unwavering focus and unparalleled skill, he continues to redefine the parameters of pace bowling in Test cricket, setting a new paradigm for the next generation of fast bowlers.
Bumrah’s legacy, which currently seems to be in its golden period, possesses all the hallmarks that could one day see him occupy the pantheon of cricket’s greatest. As spectators and aficionados witness his career unfold, it is clear that any encounter with this world-class pacer will likely be a rendezvous with history. For now, however, Bumrah and cricket lovers alike can revel in an achievement that speaks volumes of his extraordinary talent and dedication—a testament to the relentless pursuit of greatness that echoes through the corridors of cricket’s vast chronicle.
