Bumrah breaks Wasim Akram’s 24-year-old record

At the 22-yard battlefield of Headingley, all eyes once again turned to Jasprit Bumrah—a bowler who has often defied cricketing conventions. In a match where batters grabbed headlines with centuries, it was Bumrah who drew comparisons to another world altogether. Former England cricketer Mark Butcher, commenting during the second day of the Test, said, “It feels like I’m watching a completely different kind of cricket,” in awe of Bumrah’s bowling. While Indian batters Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant stole the show with their majestic hundreds, Bumrah quietly etched his name into the history books by breaking a 24-year-old record held by the legendary Wasim Akram.

On Saturday, the second day of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, India resumed play at a commanding position and continued to dominate. Having seen centuries from Jaiswal (101) and captain Shubman Gill (147) on the first day, the Indian innings was further boosted by vice-captain Rishabh Pant’s aggressive 134. India posted a massive total of 471, setting a strong tone for the rest of the match.

While England’s Ollie Pope provided some resistance with an unbeaten century (100\*), their batting lineup was kept under constant pressure—mainly due to Jasprit Bumrah’s unrelenting pace and precision. Bumrah claimed all three English wickets that fell on the second day, finishing with figures that underlined his dominance. At stumps, England were 209 for 3, still trailing by 262 runs, with Bumrah being the standout performer with the ball.

His impact was immediate. In the very first over of England’s innings, Bumrah struck. Zak Crawley, attempting to glance a ball headed toward the leg stump, ended up edging it to the slip cordon. India had their breakthrough. Though he could have had Ben Duckett’s wicket early as well, a sharp chance went down at backward point off the hands of Ravindra Jadeja. But Bumrah was not to be denied. He returned in the 29th over to bowl Duckett (62) and then scalped the prized wicket of Joe Root (28), England’s most experienced batter.

With those three wickets, Bumrah surpassed Wasim Akram’s tally of 146 wickets in SENA countries—South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia—becoming the highest wicket-taker among Asian bowlers in those conditions. Akram had achieved his 146 wickets in 55 innings across 32 Tests at an average of 24.11. Bumrah, with 148 wickets in just 60 innings, has surpassed the Pakistani legend and done so with a better average, hovering around 21. This milestone speaks not just to Bumrah’s consistency, but also to his mastery in hostile foreign conditions, traditionally challenging for subcontinental bowlers.

What sets Bumrah apart is not just the wickets but how he gets them. His unorthodox action, pinpoint yorkers, and sudden changes in pace leave even the best batters guessing. While other Indian bowlers struggled to find rhythm on the Headingley pitch, Bumrah’s spells constantly challenged England’s top order. His ability to generate reverse swing, maintain control, and strike with precision once again put him in a league of his own.

This latest record cements Bumrah’s status as India’s premier pacer in overseas conditions and one of the finest in the world. In the list of most wickets by Asian bowlers in SENA countries, Bumrah now leads with 148, followed by Wasim Akram (146), Anil Kumble (141), Ishant Sharma (130), and Mohammed Shami (123).

As the Test match progresses, India has both runs on the board and their ace bowler in top form. For a team led by a young captain in Shubman Gill and transitioning into a new era after the retirements of legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Bumrah’s performance offers not just hope, but genuine strength.