Neeraj Chopra Touts Jasprit Bumrah's Potential as Javelin Thrower

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic gold medalist in javelin, has identified Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian cricket team's fast bowler, as a potential javelin star. Chopra believes Bumrah possesses the necessary physical attributes and techniques required for success in the sport.

During a Star Sports segment hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chopra stated that Bumrah's fitness and strength make him a prime candidate for javelin, were he not already a successful cricketer.

"I think it would be a fast bowler for sure. So, I think a fully fit Jasprit Bumrah will be good at it," Chopra said.

Bumrah's recent cricketing performance underscores his athletic capabilities. In the first Test match against England at Headingley, he achieved his 14th five-wicket haul in the first innings.

England ultimately won the match, chasing a target of 371 runs, with Ben Duckett scoring 149. This victory gave England a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.

Bumrah's statistics for 2024 reveal his dominance. He has taken 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches, surpassing all other fast bowlers globally.

His workload has been substantial, with 410.4 overs bowled, the most among all pace bowlers worldwide. Australia's Mitchell Starc follows with 362.3 overs, and England's Gus Atkinson has bowled 328 overs with 54 wickets.

Among Indian bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja is the only other player to exceed 400 overs, having bowled 400.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj, who has played the same number of matches as Bumrah, has bowled 355.3 overs.

Due to workload management, Bumrah is expected to rest for the upcoming Test at Edgbaston. Siraj is likely to spearhead the pace attack, despite his performance in the Headingley Test.

The second Test of the series will commence on July 2 in Birmingham, where India will aim to level the series against England.

This discussion highlights the shared athletic demands of cricket and track and field, particularly the physical similarities between fast bowling and javelin throwing.

The announcement was part of the promotion for the Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event, scheduled for July 5 and broadcast on Star Sports.