Bumrah Created History With the Highest-Ever ICC Bowling Rating, Yashasvi Jaiswal Also Close to the Crown

In the recently updated ICC Men's Batting and Bowling Rankings, India’s premier bowler, Jaspreet Bumrah, achieved the highest-ever ICC rating for an Indian bowler in the test format. While Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is also close to the crown position, as the difference between him and Joe Root, who is in the first position, is just 41 points.

Bumrah: The Hero, The Match Winner and The Lifeline

Bumrah, the backbone of Indian bowling, has been phenomenal in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. After a lethal performance in the Boxing Day Test match, where he took nine wickets, including a fiver in the second innings, he has taken 30 wickets in the first four test matches of the series. Eight were in the first test match at Perth, four were in Adelaide, and nine were in Brisbane.

 The team's sole reliance on him could be dangerous as he has recently returned from back surgery and has been doing long spells in the series. He bowled nine spells in the second innings of the fourth test in just one day. On his heavy workload, several cricket legends advised him to give enough rest to his body. Otherwise, this could backfire in the long run. To manage his workload, the team has rested him for the upcoming ODI series against England so that he is fresh and well-rested for the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy. 

After Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazelwood is next on the list, at second with 843 points. Pat Cummins also reached third with 837 points after the fourth test. Kagiso Rabada slid two positions to fourth. With two more tests left for Australia against Sri Lanka, it will be interesting to see who ends up at the top of the table by the end of this WTC cycle.

Yashasvi Jaiswal: The Rising Star 

On the batting rankings, Yashasvi Jaiswal surpassed Travis Head and reached the fourth position with 854 points. With this, the point difference between him and the top position is just 41 points. Jaiswal batted beautifully in the Boxing Day Test match at Melbourne Cricket Ground and scored half-centuries in both innings, 82 in the first innings and 84 in the second. 

Both of his dismissals in the first and second innings were unfortunate. In the first innings, he got run out due to a miscommunication between him and Virat Kohli. The second-inning dismissal was very controversial, as some fans and the fraternity believed that he was not out, while others suggested he was out. 

On Pat Cummins's bouncer, he tried to play a shot. The ball passed close to the bat, but the on-field umpire gave not out. However, when Australia took the DRS, the third umpire overruled the decision without any evidence of an edge on the Snickometer, giving the decision based on the camera view. This sparks a debate on umpiring standards and irregularities and how those decisions often go against the Indian side.

"I can see the ball has made contact with the gloves. Joel, you need to change your decision."

And with that, Jaiswal is out! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/biOQP4ZeDB

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 30, 2024

In the latest men's test batting rankings, Joe Root is at the top with 895 points, his teammate Harry Brooks is second with 876 points, and Kane Williamson is third with 867 points. India still has one game left in this WTC Cycle at Sydney, so it will be interesting to see what the rankings are after the next game.