Jasprit Bumrah’s meteoric rise in the cricketing world reached a new pinnacle as he clinched the coveted top spot in the men’s Test bowling rankings, a historic feat for an Indian pace bowler. This milestone marked the first time in India’s cricketing history that a fast bowler ascended to the summit of Test bowling rankings, with illustrious predecessors like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Bishen Singh Bedi having previously held similar distinctions.
Jasprit Bumrah’s remarkable ascent to the pinnacle was fueled by his exceptional performance in the Vizag Test against England, where his spellbinding figures of 9/91 played a pivotal role in India’s resounding 106-run victory, leveling the series.
Despite amassing an impressive tally of ten five-wicket hauls in his 34 Test matches prior to this achievement, Bumrah had never before secured a Test ranking higher than third position. Notably, two of these remarkable five-wicket hauls were delivered this year alone, with the seasoned pacer scalping figures of 6/61 against South Africa in Cape Town and a staggering 6/45 in his recent outing against England.
ALSO READ: Sunil Gavaskar Emphasizes Ranji Trophy Preparation For Indian Batters Ahead Of Tests
Bumrah’s ascent to the summit saw him dethrone his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, who had held the premier ranking since March the previous year. Ashwin’s slightly subdued performance against England saw him slip two places to third in the updated rankings, with South African pace sensation Kagiso Rabada settling into the second spot, trailing behind Bumrah.
– Achieved No.1 Ranking in Tests.
– Achieved No.1 Ranking in ODIs.
– Achieved No.1 Ranking in T20is.Jasprit Bumrah – the only bowler in history to top all formats Ranking…!!!! 🐐🦁 pic.twitter.com/UVg2OifITD
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 7, 2024
In addition to his Test accolades, Bumrah has previously clinched the title of World No. 1 bowler in both ODIs and T20Is, underlining his versatility and dominance across formats. With 881 rating points to his credit, Bumrah joins the ranks of Ashwin (904) and Jadeja (899) as the only Indian bowlers to have amassed higher rating points.
ALSO READ: Sachin Tendulkar’s Heartfelt Tribute To Lata Mangeshkar On Her Death Anniversary
Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja, in a unique feat, had jointly held the top-ranking position in March 2017. The latest rankings also reflect significant movements in the batting and bowling standings, with players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Zak Crawley, Rehan Ahmed, and Tom Hartley making notable strides in their respective categories.
Furthermore, the rankings have been updated to account for standout performances in the recent Test between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, showcasing the dynamic landscape of international cricket rankings.
