Jasprit Bumrah becomes No.1 ranked Test bowler after heroics in Visakhapatnam vs England

Jasprit Bumrah created history when he became the first Indian pacer to become the No 1 ranked Test bowler on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old was in top form at Vizag against England, taking 9 wickets and helping India to a series-levelling win.

The performance also helped him go over Australia captain Pat Cummins, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and compatriot Ravichandran Ashwin, making him only the fourth from his country to attain number one position with Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Bishan Singh Bedi the other Indians who have been at the top of the charts.

Bumrah has 881 rating points with Ashwin (904) and Jadeja (899) the only India bowlers to have aggregated more rating points. Ashwin and Jadeja also have the unique distinction of being jointly top-ranked in March 2017.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙔𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 N̶O̶T̶ 𝙀𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩! 🎯

Say hello to ICC Men's No. 1 Ranked Bowler in Tests 👋

Our very own – Jasprit Bumrah 👌👌#TeamIndia | @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/pxMYCGgj3i

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 7, 2024

Coming to the batting rankings, left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s double century against England in the second Test helped him go to the 29th position while Shubman Gill reached the 38th spot after his century in the same match.

Meanwhile, India are yet to name the squad for the remaining three Tests. Though Bumrah is certain to make it, the lingering question is when to give him a rest. Last week, despite Mohammed Siraj bowling full throttle at the nets two days before the Test, India’s think-tank decided to send him home from Vizag.

With a nine-day gap before the third Test at Rajkot, with the series level at 1-1 and momentum by their side, playing Bumrah is tempting for the team management. Having drawn level, India understand the need to go hard at England at Rajkot and for that they need Bumrah, who delivered every time Rohit Sharma handed him the ball. Although he didn’t show any signs of fatigue or struggle, the 33.1 overs he sent down at Vizag is the most he has delivered in a Test since his comeback.

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