(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] India pacer Jasprit Bumrah reached a significant milestone as the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled their latest weekly player rankings on Wednesday. Bumrah’s outstanding performance during the home Test match series against England, particularly in the second game held at Vizag, propelled him to the forefront of the ICC Test bowling rankings.
With an impressive haul of nine wickets in the match, Bumrah’s stellar display elevated him three spots to claim the coveted numero uno Test bowler position.
Surpassing formidable names like Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabad and Ravichandran Ashwin, Bumrah becomes the first Indian fast-bowler to attain this distinction and only the fourth Indian bowler overall, following the likes of spin maestros Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Bishan Singh Bedi.
“Jasprit Bumrah’s place as the best fast bowler in the world is confirmed following news that the India quick has claimed the No.1 spot on the latest ICC Men’s Test Bowler rankings,” the ICC stated in a release.
Moreover, at 30 years old, Bumrah joins an elite club as only the second Indian cricketer to ascend to the pinnacle across all formats, a feat previously accomplished solely by Virat Kohli. He also becomes the fourth cricketer globally to achieve this distinction, alongside legends such as Mathew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Kohli.
Bumrah’s meteoric rise comes on the back of a remarkable Test career, having played 34 matches for India in which he has scalped 155 wickets at an astounding average of 20.19. His economy rate of 2.72 and strike rate of 44.55 underscore his efficacy as a match-winning bowler, further highlighted by his ten five-wicket hauls.
In other notable movements within the ICC rankings, India left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav ascended four places to 45th position, while opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who notched his maiden double century in the second Test against England, surged 37 places to rank 29th. Additionally, India’s No. 3 Test batsman, Shubman Gill, waltzed 14 places to achieve a career-best 38th position following his century in the second innings of the same Test.