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Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah recently delivered a sensational performance during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, cementing his place as one of the greatest fast bowlers in modern cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah’s record-breaking performance against Australia
With a staggering 32 wickets, Bumrah dominated the Australian batting lineup, producing one of the finest bowling performances by an overseas pacer on Australian soil. His tally surpassed the long-standing record held by Bishan Singh Bedi for the most wickets by an Indian pacer in a Test series against Australia. Bumrah’s relentless pace, pinpoint accuracy, and mastery over seam and swing made him a terrifying proposition for the Australian batters.
His ability to extract movement from any surface and exploit even the smallest technical flaws in opposition batters ensured that Australia had no respite. With impeccable control over his deliveries, he dismantled the Australian top order multiple times, leaving even their most experienced batters struggling for answers. His reverse swing spells in the later stages of the innings, combined with his well-disguised yorkers and sharp bouncers, made him nearly unplayable.
Mitchell Marsh’s hilarious admission at the Australian Cricket Awards
Bumrah’s dominance over Australian batters extended beyond the cricket field. During the Australian Cricket Awards held at Melbourne’s Crown Casino on Monday, February 6, where Australia’s top cricketers were honored, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh shared a hilarious anecdote about the lingering impact of facing Bumrah.
While addressing the audience, Marsh jokingly revealed how the nightmare of facing Bumrah continues to haunt him. Recalling a backyard cricket session, he said, “My little nephew Ted. He’s four years old, and we played backyard cricket the other day. He came in with Bumrah’s action, and the nightmare continued,” The entire audience erupted in laughter, highlighting how Bumrah’s influence extends beyond international cricket and into Australian households.
The statistical battle between Bumrah and Marsh during the BGT further highlights the Indian pacer’s supremacy. Bumrah dismissed Marsh three times in the series, restricting him to a mere 20 runs off 59 balls, with an extremely low strike rate of 33.9. Out of the 59 balls Marsh faced from Bumrah, 51 were dot balls, showcasing how the Indian fast bowler completely choked his scoring options. With a batting average of just 6.7 against Bumrah, Marsh found himself trapped in a never-ending struggle every time the Indian pacer had the ball in hand.
Here’s the video:
"The nightmare continued"
Mitch Marsh on fire again at the #AusCricketAwards 😂 pic.twitter.com/KPBNSS1Urs
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 3, 2025
Also READ: 3 players who can replace Mitchell Marsh in Australia’s squad for Champions Trophy 2025
ICC Cricketer of the Year 2024: A recognition of excellence
Bumrah’s outstanding performances throughout the year did not go unnoticed, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) named him the Cricketer of the Year for 2024. The award recognized his exceptional consistency, match-winning spells, and unparalleled impact in red-ball cricket. Returning to Test cricket in late 2023 after a lengthy recovery from a back injury, Bumrah wasted no time in reclaiming his throne as the premier fast bowler in the format.
He finished 2024 as the leading wicket-taker, with numbers that stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries. His tally of 71 wickets at a phenomenal bowling average of 14.92 was unmatched, with England’s Gus Atkinson being the closest challenger with 52 wickets. Bumrah’s strike rate of 30.1 reflected his ability to pick up wickets at regular intervals, while his total of 357 overs bowled demonstrated his ability to sustain high-quality performances across long spells.
