Pace inferno Jasprit Bumrah named ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year

India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been conferred with the Sir Garfield Sobers award for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2024. The 31-year-old trounced the likes of Joe Root, Travis Head and Harry Brook to earn the coveted prize. Bumrah became only the fifth Indian to win the award after Rahul Dravid (2004), Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016) and Virat Kohli (2017,18).

Bumrah was on song in 2024 as he bossed batters across formats, notably in Tests and T20Is, while also being central to India’s World Cup win in the shortest format. With 15 wickets at a superb average of 8.26 and a scarcely believable economy rate of 4.17, Bumrah was Player of the Tournament at the 2024 T20 World Cup. His contributions across the tournament changed the complexion of the game, particularly in the league game against Pakistan and in the title clash against South Africa.

Bumrah totalled an eye-popping 71 wickets in the calendar year, 19 more than the next-best, Gus Atkinson. His relentless potency saw him surge to the top spot in the player rankings and he also breached the elusive 900-point barrier, the highest for any Indian bowler in Test history. For his scintillating exploits, Bumrah was also adjudged the ICC Test Player of the Year.

The recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, which India lost 1-3, was a microcosm of the pacer’s quality. He returned 32 scalps across the five Tests and often proved to be a lone ranger for India as their bowling attack finds itself undergoing a transition.

ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year: Yashasvi Jaiswal (Ind), Ben Duckett (Eng), Kane Williamson (NZ), Joe Root (Eng), Harry Brook (Eng), Kamindu Mendis (SL), Jamie Smith (Eng) (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (Ind), Pat Cummins (Aus) (c), Matt Henry (NZ), Jasprit Bumrah (Ind)

Broadcast Schedule

India v England White ball series
IND v ENG 2nd ODI, Cuttack
9th February
Start time: 8:00 am GMT
IND v ENG 3rd ODI, Ahmedebad
12th February
Start time: 8:00 am GMT