DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been honored with the ICC award for Men’s Cricketer of the Year for his outstanding contributions across both formats of the game throughout 2024.
At 31, the right-arm pacer has now joined an elite group of Indian cricketers to receive this prestigious accolade, following in the footsteps of legends like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Virat Kohli.
Expressing his joy, Bumrah said, “As a child, I admired many of my greatest heroes who received this remarkable award, so it brings me immense happiness.”
Previously, Kohli had bagged the award in consecutive years, specifically in 2016 and 2017.
Bumrah faced tough competition for the award from Australia’s Travis Head and England’s Joe Root and Harry Brook.
In addition to this accolade, Bumrah was awarded the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year after taking an impressive 71 wickets in 13 matches.
His remarkable performance during India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup, held in the United States and the West Indies, saw him take 15 wickets at an average of just 8.26, coupled with an astounding economy rate of 4.17. His contributions in the tournament also earned him the Player of the Tournament honor.
“Last year was truly unforgettable. Winning the T20 World Cup in Barbados is a memory that will remain close to my heart forever,” Bumrah remarked fondly.
One of the highlights of his performance came during a nail-biting match against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup, where Bumrah recorded figures of 3-14, helping secure a thrilling six-run victory for India. He further shone in the finals, taking 2-18 against South Africa.
