New Delhi: Jasprit Bumrah expressed his honor after being awarded the prestigious ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year accolade but emphasized that his team’s success remains his top priority. The 31-year-old fast bowler, who was given the Sir Garfield Sobers Award on Tuesday, cited India’s T20 World Cup triumph as his most cherished moment of 2024. Bumrah’s exceptional performance throughout the year, marked by skill, precision, and consistency across all formats, earned him widespread recognition. In addition to the Cricketer of the Year award, he was named ICC Test Cricketer of the Year on Monday and earned a place in the Test Team of the Year announced last week. “I feel really good. As a youngster, I’ve seen my childhood heroes win this prestigious award, so it feels amazing to be on the ‘receiving end’,” Bumrah playfully shared with the broadcasters.
Bumrah Prioritizes Team Victory, Reflects on T20 World Cup Triumph
Despite his individual success, India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, reaffirmed that team victory will always be his main priority. Reflecting on India’s T20 World Cup win, Bumrah shared, “Winning the T20 World Cup was really special, and the memories we created after that will stay with me forever.” Bumrah played a pivotal role in India’s triumphant campaign in the Americas, taking 15 wickets at an incredible average of 8.26 and an economy rate of just 4.17. His exceptional performance was key in leading India to the T20 World Cup title.
Jasprit Bumrah Reflects on T20 World Cup Glory and ICC Cricketer of the Year Honour
Jasprit Bumrah expressed that his focus will always remain on team success, even after winning the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Award. Reflecting on his remarkable achievements, he said, “So I will always pick us winning the T20 World Cup first.” Bumrah’s outstanding performances across formats earned him recognition as the fifth Indian cricketer to win this prestigious award, joining the ranks of Rahul Dravid (2004), Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016), and Virat Kohli (2017, 2018).
A Humble Approach Despite Accolades
“It feels really good to get honours from the legends of the game, but I always take things with a pinch of salt,” Bumrah shared. He emphasized the importance of staying grounded: “I’m very happy with the honour, but I don’t let myself get too high. My feet are on the ground, and I’m really happy with the accolades that I get.”
Stellar Year in Test Cricket
Bumrah’s consistency and brilliance were especially evident in Test cricket, where he finished 2024 with 71 wickets in just 13 matches, averaging 14.92. This performance was the second-best among fast bowlers, trailing only Kapil Dev’s 100 wickets in 1983. Bumrah’s superb form during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he claimed 32 wickets in five Tests, further cemented his reputation as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers.
Wickets and Memorable Moments
Reflecting on his most memorable moments from the year, Bumrah singled out his wicket of Ollie Pope during the Test series against England. “I’ve been very happy to play a lot of Test cricket this year, and many wickets have been special. But the one that I took against England at Vizag, the Ollie Pope wicket, was really special because that changed the momentum and everything,” he recalled.
Despite India’s failure to qualify for the 2023-25 World Test Championship final, Bumrah played a key role in India’s strong points tally, taking 77 wickets. His contributions across formats in 2024 have undoubtedly solidified his place as one of the game’s gr
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