Jasprit Bumrah etched his name in cricket history during the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Indian pacer achieved a career-defining milestone by taking his 200th Test wicket, solidifying his status as one of the game’s premier bowlers.
Bumrah dismissed Travis Head in Australia’s second innings on Day 4 to reach the landmark in his 44th Test match. This feat makes him the fastest Indian bowler to achieve 200 Test wickets in terms of matches, second only to Ravichandran Ashwin (38 matches) in Indian cricket.
Elite Club of Quick Achievers
Bumrah’s record doesn’t stop there. He took just 8484 deliveries to achieve this milestone, making him the fastest Indian to 200 Test wickets in terms of balls bowled. He outpaced Mohammed Shami, who reached the mark in 9896 deliveries. Globally, Bumrah ranks fourth on the list of bowlers with the fewest balls to reach 200 wickets:
- Waqar Younis – 7725 balls
- Dale Steyn – 7848 balls
- Kagiso Rabada – 8154 balls
- Jasprit Bumrah – 8484 balls
- Malcolm Marshall – 9234 balls
Breaking Garner’s Legendary Record
With a bowling average of just 19.56, Bumrah set another incredible benchmark. He’s the first bowler to take 200 wickets in Test cricket with a sub-20 average. The previous record-holder, West Indies legend Joel Garner, reached 200 wickets conceding 4067 runs. Bumrah bettered it by giving away only 3912 runs.
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Bumrah’s dominance extends to the World Test Championship (WTC). Earlier in the match, he became only the third pacer—after Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc—to claim 150 wickets in the WTC era. His tally of 151 wickets ranks second among Indian bowlers, behind Ravichandran Ashwin’s 195.
Joining the ranks of Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins, Bumrah’s achievement underscores his standing in modern cricket. Achieving 200 wickets in just 44 matches is no small feat. It’s a testament to his skill, adaptability, and consistency.
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