In a breathtaking display of skill and precision, Jasprit Bumrah made history by becoming the fastest Indian bowler to claim 150 Test wickets, leaving England’s Ben Stokes defenseless and bewildered during the second Test in Visakhapatnam.
Bumrah’s exceptional performance saw him finish with figures of 6 for 45, marking his third-best bowling display and a career-best on home soil. The defining moment came in the final session of Day 2 when Bumrah returned to the attack and dismissed Stokes in the 50th over of England’s first innings.
Stokes, who was leading the charge for England with a spirited 47 off 52, found himself powerless against Bumrah’s top-class delivery—a cutter of the highest quality pitched on a good length. The ball nipped in, kept low, and went under the bat to rattle the off stump, leaving Stokes perplexed and gesturing in confusion.
With this dismissal, Bumrah achieved the milestone of 150 Test wickets in just 6781 deliveries, surpassing the previous record held by Umesh Yadav (7661). Not only did he become the fastest Indian to reach this feat, but he also claimed the second spot among the fastest Asian pacers, behind Pakistan’s Waqar Younis.
In a remarkable sequence, Bumrah went on to secure his 10th five-wicket haul by dismissing Tom Hartley in the following over. This achievement places him as the second-fastest Indian fast bowler to reach double figures in five-wicket hauls, following in the footsteps of Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma.
Bumrah’s outstanding performance in this Test match, with his 150th wicket and 10th five-wicket haul, adds another chapter to his already illustrious career. His ability to deliver under pressure, especially on home turf, solidifies his reputation as a standout performer in the world of Test cricket.