Dubai: Jasprit Bumrah triumphed over fellow nominees Travis Head, Joe Root, and Harry Brook to win the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year, recognising his stellar performance in 2024.
Bumrah became the fifth Indian to claim this honour, following in the footsteps of Rahul Dravid (2004), Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016), and Virat Kohli (2017, 2018). Additionally, he was named ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year, with 71 wickets from 13 matches.
Bumrah’s 2024 performances were marked by record-breaking milestones. He became the fastest Indian pacer to reach 200 Test wickets, achieving this with a sub-20 bowling average. His exceptional form saw him surpass 900 points in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings, finishing with a record-breaking 907 points—the highest ever for an Indian bowler.
In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Bumrah was named Player of the Tournament, claiming 15 wickets at an average of 8.26 and an economy rate of 4.17. His pivotal role in India’s triumph, their first T20 World Cup win in 17 years, was undeniable.
Bumrah concluded the year as the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, with 71 wickets, outstripping Gus Atkinson’s 52 wickets. His contribution to India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy win was crucial, earning him Player of the Series honours with 32 wickets across five Tests.
During the 2023-2025 World Test Championship cycle, Bumrah took a record 77 wickets, the most by any pacer in a single cycle. His 3-14 spell against Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 was pivotal in India’s six-run win, while his performance in the final against South Africa, with figures of 2-18, helped secure India’s victory.
In the 2024 Test series, Bumrah claimed a six-wicket haul in Cape Town and took 19 wickets in India’s commanding 4-1 series win over England. His five-wicket hauls in Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne were instrumental in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dominant bowlers of the year.
