India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah made history on January 1 by retaining the top spot in the ICC Test Rankings and recording the highest-ever rating points by an Indian bowler.
Bumrah’s exceptional performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he claimed 30 wickets from four matches, earned him the top rank.
Despite his individual success, India lost two of the first four matches of the series.
Bumrah’s new rating of 907 points surpasses his previous high of 904, which he shared with Ravichandran Ashwin, and places him joint-17th on the all-time list with English spinner Derek Underwood. England’s Sydney Barnes and George Lohmann top the rankings, with 932 and 931 points, respectively.
Bumrah also made history during the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, becoming the fastest Indian pacer to reach 200 Test wickets.
He surpassed Kapil Dev’s record, who had achieved the milestone in 50 matches in 1983. Bumrah reached the landmark in his 44th Test, making him the joint-second fastest Indian to 200 Test wickets, alongside Ravindra Jadeja as Ravichandran Ashwin holds the record, reaching the milestone in 37 Tests.
Bumrah’s 200th wicket came in 8,484 balls, placing him fourth fastest by balls bowled, behind Pakistan’s Waqar Younis, South Africa’s Dale Steyn, and Kagiso Rabada.
Fast bowler also broke Kapil Dev’s record for most wickets by an Indian pacer in a bilateral Test series in Australia.