MUMBAI: India’s pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah etched his name in the record books on Wednesday as he surpassed Kapil Dev’s long-standing record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in Australia during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Bumrah reached the historic milestone on Day 5 of the Gabba Test, claiming the wicket of Usman Khawaja to take his tally to 51 wickets in Australia.
This equalled the number set by Kapil Dev, who had held the record since his career-defining performances in the 1980s.
However, Bumrah’s exceptional performance did not end there. In the very next over, the Indian pacer dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, forcing the Australian batsman to edge the ball into the hands of wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, bringing his total wickets in the series to 20, with a staggering average of under 11.
The momentous achievement occurred after a masterful performance in the first innings, where Bumrah delivered a stellar 6-wicket haul to help India recover after early setbacks.
Despite the challenges faced by the rest of the bowling attack, Bumrah’s efforts ensured India posted a competitive total of 260, avoiding the follow-on and keeping the pressure on Australia.
As India looked to close in on an elusive victory, Bumrah was instrumental in dismissing key Australian players. His dismissal of Khawaja was especially notable as it came on the Australian opener’s birthday, marking the fourth time Bumrah had sent him back to the pavilion in this series.
With 52 wickets to his name, Bumrah now holds the record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in Australia, surpassing Kapil Dev, who had claimed 51 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 24.58.
Bumrah’s current tally of 52 wickets has come in just 10 matches, at an impressive average of 17.21, underscoring his dominance on Australian soil.
The following is a breakdown of the top Indian wicket-takers in Australia:
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Matches: 10
- Wickets: 52
- Average: 17.21
- Kapil Dev
- Matches: 11
- Wickets: 51
- Average: 24.58
- Anil Kumble
- Matches: 10
- Wickets: 49
- Average: 37.73
