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Even though Indian team was defeated in the Boxing Day Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Jasprit Bumrah emerged as one player who has been a pillar of strength of the Indian team. Amidst fallout of other players in the side, Bumrah has taken another 5-wicket haul at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). With this, the star Indian pacer is now one of the highest wicket-takers in a calendar year.
Jasprit Bumrah’s stellar performance at the MCG
Bumrah has delivered when the team needed him the most. The 31-year-old has taken a total of 9 wickets in the Boxing Day Test amidst an onslaught of Australian batters. Bumrah got rid of opener Usman Khwaja, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head and Nathan Lyon in the first innings in which Australia scored a mammoth total of 474 runs.
In the second innings, Bumrah stormed the Aussie batting line-up and paved the way for India’s comeback in the game after taking 5 wickets for 57 runs. The Indian pacer got rid of Head once again to complete his 200th Test wicket in just 44 matches. Bumrah, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy was the player for India who kept the team in the contest for the final day of the Test match.
Also WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah gives intense ‘death stare’ after dismissing Nathan Lyon on Day 5 of MCG Test – AUS vs IND
Top 5 most wickets by an Indian bowler in a calendar year
5) Jasprit Bumrah- 71 wickets in 13 matches (2023-24):
The current season has been a landmark in Bumrah’s career. The 31-year-old is currently the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with 30 wickets in 4 Test matches of the series. Bumrah has also been a crucial part of the Indian squad that won the T20 world cup this year in the USA and has delivered for the team in all formats.
(4) Ravichandran Ashwin – 72 wickets in 12 matches (2016-17):
The 2016-17 season of the off-spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin was a memorable time of his career. He was a part of the Asia Cup winning squad in which he took 4 wickets. Other than that, he took 47 wickets in Test, 23 wickets in T20Is and 2 wickets in ODIs that year making him one of the highest wicket-takers in a calendar year.
(3) Anil Kumble – 74 wickets in 12 matches (2004-05):
With 27 wickets in 8 innings, Anil Kumble was the leading wicket-taker in the 2004-05 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kumble added another feather to his cap by becoming the leading wicket-taker in a series against Pakistan. The Indian legend took 11 wickets in that series. He also had the best bowling figures of his career during the season at 7/48 in 17.3 overs and 6/133 in 47 overs against Australia in Chennai.
(2) Kapil Dev- 74 wickets in 17 matches (1979-80):
Kapil Dev had an impressive 1979-80 season with the ball. The former Indian captain took a 5-wicket haul against England and a 10-wicket haul against Pakistan. It was a season in which Dev made his Test and ODI debut and impressed the cricketing world with his all-round capabilities.
(1) Kapil Dev- 75 wickets in 18 matches (1983-84):
The former Indian captain was at the peak of his prowess in the 1983-84 season. Dev was the leader of the world cup winning squad which scripted history. Dev took 34 wickets in 32 world cup matches, a monumental achievement for an Indian at that time. The legendary all-rounder took 9 wickets against the then mighty West Indies in a Test match at Ahmedabad. Overall, the 1983-84 season was a memorable year in his career.
