Star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2024. The International Cricket Council (ICC) made the announcement on Tuesday, recognising Bumrah’s outstanding performances during India’s tour of Australia.
Bumrah claimed an impressive 22 wickets in three-Test matches at an exceptional average of 14.22. He outshone fellow nominees Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson to secure the coveted award.
Bumrah’s brilliance was on full display right from the start in Adelaide. His four-wicket haul played a crucial role in keeping India within striking distance by limiting Australia’s lead in the first innings.
In Brisbane, Bumrah continued his sensational form, dismantling Australia’s batting order with six wickets in the first innings. He added three more scalps in the second innings, completing a nine-wicket match haul and ensuring the rain-affected match ended in a draw.
The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne witnessed another stellar performance from Bumrah. He picked up four wickets in the first innings, providing a rare bright spot in an otherwise lacklustre bowling effort by the Indian team.
In the second innings, Bumrah secured a five-wicket haul, bowling Australia out for 234. Despite his heroics, India’s batting faltered, resulting in a 184-run defeat.
Throughout the challenging tour, Bumrah emerged as the lone warrior for India, consistently delivering match-defining performances. His exceptional contributions earned him the Player of the Series award and solidified his reputation as one of the world’s finest bowlers.
During the series, Bumrah achieved a significant milestone by taking his 200th Test wicket. He became the fourth-fastest player to reach this landmark in terms of balls bowled and the first bowler in history to claim 200 Test wickets at an average below 20.