Jasprit Bumrah‘s breakthrough 2024, which saw him touching the peak level of performance in India’s ongoing tour of Australia, has put him on top of a unique list of having some of the game’s legendary fast bowlers part of it — breaking the record of Pakistan’s all-time great Waqar Younis.
After his 71 wickets in Test matches to become the best red-ball bowler of 2024, Jasprit Bumrah has set a new record for the best strike rate and average by a fast bowler in international cricket across formats in a calendar year.
His remaining 15 wickets in 2024 came in 8 T20Is at an average of 8.26 and strike rate of 11.8.
In total, Bumrah claimed 86 wickets in 2024 across 21 matches at a staggering average of 13.76 and strike rate of 26.9, which is better than the previous record holder Younis. Thirty-four years ago, in 1990, Younis took 96 wickets in 28 matches at an average of 14.88 and strike rate of 29.6.
Among the top 10 in that list, Younis’s name features thrice, while there are three South African greats — Dale Steyn, Allan Donald and Mkhaya Ntini — and two Australians — Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins — part of it.
Bumrah is the lone Indian in that elite group with 85 international wickets in a calendar year as the minmum qualification mark.
Here’s the complete list:
| Pacer | For | Year | Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate |
| Jasprit Bumrah | IND | 2024 | 21 | 86 | 13.76 | 26.9 |
| Waqar Younis | PAK | 1990 | 28 | 96 | 14.88 | 29.6 |
| Waqar Younis | PAK | 1993 | 30 | 91 | 19.21 | 30.7 |
| Mitchell Starc | AUS | 2015 | 30 | 88 | 21.04 | 33.5 |
| Mkhaya Ntini | SA | 2006 | 26 | 86 | 21.50 | 34.0 |
| Dale Steyn | SA | 2013 | 26 | 85 | 16.54 | 34.4 |
| Waqar Younis | PAK | 1996 | 41 | 87 | 23.79 | 35.1 |
| Dale Steyn | SA | 2008 | 26 | 90 | 21.87 | 35.8 |
| Allan Donald | SA | 1998 | 27 | 107 | 18.57 | 36.0 |
| Pat Cummins | AUS | 2019 | 35 | 99 | 20.50 | 36.8 |
Talking about the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy, Bumrah has carried the load of Indian bowling on his shoulder and has proven to be a thorn in the flesh of the Australians with 30 wickets in four matches at a mind-blowing average of 12.83 and strike rate of 28.26s.
He is also the leading Test wicket-taker of 2024, with 71 wickets at 14.92 runs apiece in 13 matches at a strike rate of 30.1, including 5 five-wicket hauls.
Bumrah will begin 2025 with India’s fifth and final Test of the BGT against Australia in Sydney, starting January 3.
(Stats Courtesy: Rajesh Kumar)
