Jasprit Bumrah etched his name into the history books on December 18, 2024, during Day 5 of the India-Australia 3rd Test in Brisbane, achieving a monumental feat. The Indian fast bowler became the nation’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Test matches played in Australia, surpassing the legendary Kapil Dev, one of India’s greatest cricketers.
Bumrah’s milestone came during Australia’s second innings, where he was in sensational form, picking up two crucial wickets early on. He first clean bowled Usman Khawaja for just 8 runs, leaving the Australian opener stunned. In his next over, Bumrah made another significant breakthrough by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne, who was caught behind by Rishabh Pant. These wickets helped Bumrah take his tally to 53 wickets in just 10 Test matches on Australian soil, breaking Kapil Dev’s long-standing record of 51 wickets in 11 Tests.
With this achievement, Bumrah now stands at the top of the list for most wickets by an Indian bowler in Australia, surpassing the likes of Anil Kumble (49 wickets), R. Ashwin (40), and Bishan Bedi (35). Bumrah’s performance was instrumental in India’s bid to defend a challenging target in the final innings.
While Bumrah now holds the record for India, it’s worth noting that Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon holds the record for most wickets in India vs Australia Test matches overall, with a staggering 124 wickets in 30 Tests. Other Australian bowlers, like Pat Cummins (64 wickets) and Mitchell Starc (63 wickets), also feature prominently on the list.
In Australia’s second innings, Bumrah, along with his fellow fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, continued to dominate, reducing the hosts to 89/7. Bumrah claimed three wickets, while Siraj and Deep each took two wickets. Australia, having lost their momentum, decided to declare their innings at 89/7, leaving India a challenging target of 274 runs to chase within 56 overs on the final day.
Bumrah’s record-breaking performance is a testament to his consistency and dominance in Test cricket, especially in the challenging conditions of Australia. His leadership and skill have made him one of the premier fast bowlers in world cricket, and this new milestone is just one of many achievements that mark his extraordinary career.
