Jasprit Bumrah has expressed his profound sense of honor upon being awarded the esteemed ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year accolade, yet he emphasizes that the success of his team will always take precedence. Among all of his achievements in 2024, he cites the triumph at the T20 World Cup as the most significant moment, reflecting on its lasting impact on his career.
The 31-year-old bowler received the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Award, acknowledging a stellar year in which he exhibited exceptional skill, precision, and unwavering consistency across all formats of the game. His remarkable efforts during the year did not go unnoticed, as he was also named the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and secured a place in the Test Team of the Year announced recently.
For Bumrah, this recognition is particularly gratifying, as he recalls his admiration for cricket legends during his formative years. The weight of such an award carries immense significance for him. Nonetheless, Bumrah remains steadfast in his conviction that personal accolades are secondary to team achievements. He reflects on the T20 World Cup victory as an especially meaningful accomplishment, sharing that the memories created during that campaign will forever hold a special place in his heart.
During the T20 World Cup, Bumrah was instrumental in India’s success, concluding the tournament with 15 wickets at an extraordinary average of 8.26, complemented by a tight economy rate of 4.17. His efforts were crucial in steering the Indian team towards the much-coveted title.
His impressive consistency over the year positions Bumrah among the elite in Indian cricket history, marking him as the fifth Indian player to earn the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Award. Previous Indian cricketers who received this honor include iconic names like Rahul Dravid in 2004, Sachin Tendulkar in 2010, Ravichandran Ashwin in 2016, and Virat Kohli, who garnered the award in both 2017 and 2018.
While acknowledging the accolades, Bumrah adopts a grounded approach to such honors, emphasizing that he remains humble despite the recognition he has achieved. He balances pride in his accomplishments with a level-headed perspective, stating that he does not allow himself to become overly euphoric over the accolades.
In the realm of Test cricket, Bumrah concluded the year with a remarkable tally of 71 wickets across just 13 matches, boasting an impressive average of 14.92. This significant achievement ranks him as the second-best performer among fast bowlers in a calendar year, trailing only the legendary Kapil Dev, who recorded 100 wickets in 1983. Bumrah’s performance during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia was particularly commendable, where he collected 32 wickets in five matches, reinforcing his status as one of cricket's premier pacers.
Despite India’s inability to advance to the finals of the 2023-25 World Test Championship, Bumrah’s contribution was pivotal. His total of 77 wickets played a substantial role in accumulating vital points for the team throughout the championship cycle.
Looking back on his impressive performance, Bumrah reminisces about specific wickets that stood out during the year. Among them, he highlights the significance of dismissing Ollie Pope during the Test series against England. That particular wicket, claimed at the Visakhapatnam Test, was transformative for the momentum of the game, making it an unforgettable moment in his career.
Bumrah's exceptional achievements in 2024 are a testament to his unwavering dedication, skill, and the impact he has made on Indian cricket. His journey continues to inspire not only aspiring cricketers but also cricket fans who recognize the importance of teamwork and the shared joy that comes with collective victories. As Bumrah moves forward, he carries the weight of personal honors alongside the aspirations and dreams of a nation that holds cricket close to its heart.