India's premium pacer Jasprit Bumrah is headlining the nomination shortlist for Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the Men's Cricketer of the Year 2024. Bumrah appears to be the frontrunner to win the prestigious award after a stunning year across formats where he dominated everyone with his extraordinary skills. Bumrah along with England veteran Joe Root, rising young star Harry Brook and dynamic Australian batter Travis are among the four nominated in the shortlist for the ICC Cricketer of the Year award.
Bumrah's epic 2024
Jasprit Bumrah has been nothing but exceptional in this ongoing year. He is well deservedly being hailed as once in a lifetime talent. He has taken 86 wickets in the year 2024 which is the most by any bowler by a massive margin. The second one on the list is Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga who has 64 scalps to his name. What makes Bumrah's feat more special is that he has done this in just 21 matches, while others the second and third player on the list have played 30 each. The superstar pacer has also picked five fifers.
He is also the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket this year and was one of the most instrumental players in India's historic T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.
In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series between Australia and India, Bumrah has been the most impressive bowler, claiming 30 wickets in four games, 10 more than the opposition skipper and closest opponent, Pat Cummins. In his second Test match as captain, Bumrah also guided India to victory. Bumrah, who replaced Rohit Sharma in the series opener in Perth, was deadly with the ball and came into his own tactically as India crushed Australia by 290 runs.
Other nominees in the shortlist
Australian star Travis Head has been a top performer with the bat this year. He is the greatest performer for the Australian team with bat. Meanwhile, the English duo of Joe Root and Harry Brook who had been the top performers for the three-lions in the red-ball format have also made it into the list. Root and Brook are also on the list of Test cricketers of the year along with Bumrah.
Jasprit Bumrah is undoubtedly the frontrunner to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the Men's Cricketer of the Year 2024. The way he has performed, nobody has even walked close to the realm he operates in.