Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Series of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 after finishing with 32 wickets in the five-match series.
Australia defeated India by six wickets in the final match at Sydney to win the series 3-1.
During the Sydney Test, Bumrah only bowled 10 overs before going off the field due to back spasms and didn’t return. After the game, he said: “Frustrating. You have to respect your body. You have to accept what it is and move forward. Felt discomfort and wanted to check what it was.”
With the game still hanging in balance with India needed to defend 162 runs in the fourth innings, but Bumrah’s absence meant the visitors bowled with a bowler short.
“The chat this morning was about belief. The others stepped up in the first innings and took the remaining wickets. So, this morning the chat was that we are good enough. We knew we had to create pressure. It was not that the series was one-sided. It was hard fought. But that is Test cricket. A lot of learnings for our boys to take up,” Bumrah said.
Also read | Australia beats India 3-1 to claim Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years
Bumrah equaled the record of most wickets taken by any bowler in an India vs Australia Test series – 32, equaling Harbhajan Singh’s previous tally of 32 scalps during Australia’s tour of India in 2000/01.
The right-arm quick’s analysis also overtook Bishen Singh Bedi’s record of 31 wickets – most for an Indian during a Test tour to Australia. Bedi recorded the feat during India’s 1977/78 tour down under.
This series, Bumrah finished with match hauls of 8/72 in Perth; 4/63 in Adelaide; 9/94 in Brisbane; and 9/156 in Melbourne. In Sydney, the 31-year-old claimed three wickets.
Most wickets in an India vs Australia Test series
1) Jasprit Bumrah – 32, India tour of Australia 2024/25
2) Harbhajan Singh – 32, Australia tour of India 2000/01
3) Bishen Singh Bedi – 31, India tour of Australia 1977/78
3) Craig McDermott – 31, India tour of Australia 1991/92
4) Richie Benaud – 29, Australia tour of India 1959/60
4) Alan Davidson – 29, Australia tour of India 1959/60
4) R Ashwin – 29, Australia tour of India 2012/13