Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s No. 1 Test bowler, made history on Saturday, January 4, by becoming the first Indian bowler to take 32 wickets in a Test series played away from home.
The 31-year-old fast bowler, who is captaining India in the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, reached this milestone by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne for just two runs during the morning session of the second day’s play. Bumrah has now taken 32 wickets in five Tests during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia.
Before Bumrah, the record for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in an overseas Test series was held by former captain and legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi. Bedi had claimed 31 wickets in five matches during the 1977-78 Test series in Australia. Jasprit Bumrah equaled Bedi’s long-standing record on Friday after dismissing Australian opener Usman Khawaja.
With his second wicket in the Sydney Test, Bumrah has also matched Harbhajan Singh’s record for the most wickets in a Test series between India and Australia. Harbhajan had taken 32 wickets during the iconic 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy held in India, achieving the feat in just three matches.
