By Sabyasachi Bhattacherjee
June 12: Jasprit Bumrah, one of the most prolific bowling guns in Indian cricket, has once again created history. He has reached a new milestone in his international Test career, which has taken him to a unique height not only among Indian bowlers, but also among bowlers across Asia. He bowled brilliantly in the first innings of the ongoing Test match at Lord's, England, taking 5 wickets. This was his 11th "fiver" (5 or more wickets in an innings) of his career on SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) soil. With this achievement, he surpassed Sri Lankan legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and joined legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram on the list of having taken the same number of five-wicket hauls.
The significance of this achievement is immense. History shows that it has always been difficult for a bowler from the subcontinent to be consistently successful in the 'Sena' countries. The nature of the pitch, the nature of the weather, and the skill of the local batsmen all combine to mean that in these countries, not only spinners, but even pacers cannot make much of an impact. But Bumrah has proven himself by challenging that conventional wisdom. In just 32 Test matches, he has taken 11 five-wicket hauls in the region—a feat that many legendary bowlers have failed to achieve with such consistency.
With this feat, Jasprit Bumrah has also made his name in Indian history. His tally of five-wicket hauls abroad now stands at 12, surpassing Kapil Dev's record of 11. Bumrah is now at the top of this list. It is not just a numerical feat—it is the result of his skill, patience, mental toughness, and hard work. He has established himself as one of India's best weapons not only in Tests but also in ODIs and T20Is. However, his Test performances, especially on foreign soil, are taking him to the ranks of legends.
Cricket analysts and fans around the world are praising Bumrah's feat. Some are calling him a modern-day "magician", while others are calling him a "game changer".
Jasprit Bumrah is a bowler who can change the tone of a match with the ball in his hand, anywhere in the world, on any pitch, and in any situation. His bowling is characterized by a very short run-up, but extraordinary pace, perfect line and length, dangerous yorkers and the ability to reverse swing. His bowling shows that he is not just skilled, but a naturally gifted cricketer. His body language, discipline, and the menacing look in his eyes with every delivery have made him a terror to opposing batsmen.
There are not many bowlers in world cricket who have been equally successful in all three formats. Jasprit Bumrah has proudly made it into this group. Many believe that if he continues like this, he will break many more records in the future and perhaps one day establish himself as the best bowler of all time in Indian cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah's achievement is not just a personal achievement, it is also a huge achievement for Indian cricket. His feat will serve as an inspiration for the new generation of bowlers who dream of playing for their country and proving themselves on the world stage. Jasprit Bumrah is not just a cricketer today—he is the pride of Indian cricket, and is fast becoming a living legend.
