Jasprit Bumrah named ICC Player of the Month (December 2024)
What's the story
India's spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been awarded the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for December 2024.
The award comes after Bumrah's brilliant performances on India's tour of Australia last month. He finished as the highest wicket-taker of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Bumrah beat fellow nominees Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson to win the coveted award.
Here are further details.
Wicket-taker
Most wickets in BGT 2024/25
Bumrah's brilliance was evident in the five-Test series against Australia, as he took 32 wickets at an incredible average of 13.06.
His phenomenal skills were first seen in Adelaide with a four-wicket haul that kept India in the game.
He then followed it up with a six-wicket haul in Brisbane, decimating Australia's batting line-up and ensuring a draw the rain-affected match.
Series overview
Consistent performance on challenging tour
Despite India's overall struggle on the tour, Bumrah was a consistent performer.
His four-wicket haul in Melbourne's first innings was a highlight for the Indian team.
He then snapped up a five-wicket haul in the second innings, bowling Australia out for 234.
However, despite his efforts, India lost by 184 runs due to batting failures.
Career achievements
Fastest Indian pacer to 200 Test wickets
Bumrah's brilliant efforts on the difficult tour not just made him the Player of the Series, but also established him as one of the best bowlers in the world.
He took his 200th Test wicket, becoming the fourth-fastest to achieve the landmark (in terms of balls bowled). He was also the fastest Indian pacer to this mark.
Notably, he also became the first bowler ever to take 200 Test wickets at an average less than 20.
Award
About the prestigious award
The ICC acknowledges brilliant performances every month in men's and women's categories internationally, and therefore, those players are nominated.
Eventually, one of them is picked as the winner for that particular month. They have been handing out these monthly awards since the start of 2021.
Renowned journalists and former cricketers form the voting panel. Meanwhile, the public has 10% voting rights.