IND vs WI 1st Test: Jasprit Bumrah becomes the fastest Indian pacer to 50 Test wickets at home, surpassing Kapil Dev, Srinath and Shami. (Image Credit: News18)
IND VS WI 1st Test: Jasprit Bumrah made his mark on Indian cricket history on Thursday as he became the quickest Indian pacer to 50 Test wickets at home. His ball-wielding brilliance in the first Test against West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium reminded everyone why he is one of the most popularly accepted spearheads of India's pace attack.
The Ahmedabad crowd witnessed history as Bumrah reached the landmark in just 1,747 deliveries, shattering Mohammed Shami’s earlier mark of 2,267 balls. He also equalled Javagal Srinath’s record of 24 innings, though Srinath required more deliveries.
His three-wicket burst (3/42), highlighted by a trademark yorker to dismiss Johann Layne, showcased not just numbers but sheer artistry with the red ball.
Bumrah's achievement puts him in exclusive company. Among bowlers with 50 or more Test wickets in India, he has the best average of 17.00. Only Australian Richard Benaud comes close with 52 wickets at 18.38.
Globally, Bumrah's stats appear even more mind-boggling. With 222 wickets in 49 Tests at 19.74, he's the lone bowler in history with more than 200 wickets at a sub-20 average a statistical phenomenon unrivaled by contemporaries or predecessors.
The West Indies' choice of batting first boomeranged badly. Mohammed Siraj swept through the top order with a fiery 4/40, the visitors gasping at 90/5 by lunch.
If Siraj laid the platform, Bumrah finished off the job in the second session, removing Justin Greaves and Johann Layne with impossible-looking deliveries. In all, the pace duo shared seven wickets to reduce West Indies to 162 in 44.1 overs.
Spinners contributed as well, with Kuldeep Yadav (2/25) and Washington Sundar (1/9) providing the finishing touches.
Fast bowlers in India are usually discussed together with injury layoffs and workload issues. But Bumrah has been an exception. Despite setbacks in the past, he has come back stronger, sharper, and fitter stringing together long spells at high intensity without losing rhythm.
His consistency in hitting the right spots, added to raw speed and subtle nuances, makes him a nightmare for batsmen and an invaluable asset to India.
Historically, Indian wins on their own soil have been spin-based. Bumrah's dominance changes that. Having him leading the attack, backed by Siraj and a potent spin axis, India now possess a bowling group that can decimate oppositions in all conditions.
For skipper Rohit Sharma, Bumrah is not merely a strike bowler he's the game-changer, the contest-maker who can win games single-handedly.
