Winner crowned of the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year

Indian pace superstar Jasprit Bumrah has been awarded the esteemed Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards, celebrating his remarkable 2024, during which he excelled against adversaries in both the longest and the shortest formats of the game. The bowling maestro triumphed over fellow contenders Travis Head, Joe Root, and Harry Brook for the title and is the fifth Indian to receive this honor, following Rahul Dravid (2004), Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016), and Virat Kohli (2017, 2018).

In a year when cricket frequently favored the batters, Jasprit Bumrah showcased why he ranks among the greatest, if not the greatest, fast bowlers in contemporary cricket. This marked the second individual ICC Awards recognition for Bumrah this year, as the elite pacer was additionally named the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2024, having taken 71 wickets in 13 matches. Across formats, Bumrah’s performances in 2024 were a display of artistry, precision, and unwavering consistency, as he broke record after record and solidified his status as the world’s top fast bowler.

The present top-ranked bowler in the ICC Test Rankings is now the quickest Indian pace bowler to achieve 200 Test wickets, accomplishing this milestone with a bowling average under 20 – the finest ever recorded.

The pacer’s excellence was evident in his ICC Test Bowling Rankings, as he surpassed the coveted 900-point threshold, concluding the year with an unprecedented 907 points – the highest ever for an Indian bowler. Bumrah excelled in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, leading India’s championship-winning effort after 17 years without clinching the title. He took 15 wickets at an impressive average of 8.26 and an economy rate of only 4.17, earning him the title of Player of the Tournament.

In the marquee ICC tournament against Pakistan this year, the fast bowler elevated his performance with an impressive 3-14 spell that shifted the game in favor of India’s eventual six-run win in New York.

To cap it all, his remarkable figures of 2-18 from four overs, which included the crucial dismissals of Reeza Hendricks and Marco Jansen in the final against the Proteas, significantly contributed to India’s victory in Bridgetown. Bumrah began his year by taking eight wickets against the Proteas in Cape Town, featuring an exhilarating six-wicket haul in the second innings that paved the way for a substantial win and a series draw for India.

Following that, the right-arm fast bowler secured 19 dismissals during India’s 4-1 series triumph over England at home, reinforcing India’s standing in the WTC Final race. To reinforce his status at the pinnacle of the ICC Test Bowler Rankings, Bumrah delivered an extraordinary solo performance for the visitors in the eagerly-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy, earning acclaim globally for his magnificent bowling display.

With five-fors in Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne across the initial four Tests of the series, the fast bowler put the Australian batsmen in serious difficulty throughout his outstanding performances, frequently taking wickets and controlling the match almost effortlessly. His outstanding strike rate, along with his flawless consistency in high-pressure situations, distinguishes him, making him undoubtedly the most efficient bowler of the year.