Jasprit Bumrah Becomes First-Ever Indian Pacer to be World No. 1 Test Bowler

India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah etched his name in cricket history by becoming the first Indian fast bowler to claim the coveted No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings. This momentous feat, announced on Wednesday, comes on the heels of his match-winning nine-wicket haul (9/91) against England in the Vizag Test, which helped India level the series.

Despite boasting an impressive ten five-wicket hauls in just 34 Tests, Bumrah’s previous peak ranking was third. However, his exceptional performance in Vizag propelled him past teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, who had held the top spot since March 2023. Ashwin slipped to third after a relatively quiet outing with only three wickets. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada sits comfortably in second place.

This achievement isn’t Bumrah’s first taste of cricketing glory. He has previously reached the No. 1 ranking in both ODIs and T20Is, solidifying his status as a true bowling all-rounder. Interestingly, he now joins the company of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, the only other Indian bowlers with higher rating points (Ashwin – 904, Jadeja – 899).

The updated rankings also saw movement in the batting department. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s scintillating double-century propelled him 37 places to 29th, while Shubman Gill’s century earned him a 14-place jump to a career-best 38th position. England’s Zak Crawley also enjoyed a boost, climbing eight places to 22nd after scores of 76 and 73.