Image Source: PTI
[Saba Sports News] Jasprit Bumrah, India’s fast bowler, has made history by becoming the first Indian pacer to top the ICC Test bowling rankings, surpassing teammate Ravichandran Ashwin and achieving the unique distinction of being number one in all three formats of the game.
His ascent to the top was catalyzed by his stellar performance in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, where he secured the second-best match figures of his Test career with 9/91, earning him the Player of the Match award. Ashwin, in admiration of Bumrah’s match-winning performance, coined the term ‘Boomball’ to describe his bowling.
Ashwin highlighted Bumrah’s exceptional bowling on his YouTube channel, noting him as the series’ leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets and praising his status as the top-ranked Test bowler. Bumrah’s significant contribution in Visakhapatnam included a remarkable five-wicket haul, his second in India, with 6/45 against key players like Joe Root and Ben Stokes, marking his best figures on home soil.
With 15 wickets in the series thus far, Bumrah leads as the top wicket-taker, boasting an impressive average and economy rate. Despite discussions around resting him to manage his workload, the gap between the second and third Tests suggests he might play in the upcoming match in Rajkot.
Meanwhile, the Indian team has seen some changes for the remaining Tests, including the absence of star batter Virat Kohli for the series and adjustments to the squad to accommodate players’ forms and commitments. Shreyas Iyer has been dropped, and Bengal seamer Aakash Deep has been included as a replacement for Avesh Khan, who has been released for Ranji Trophy duties.