Jasprit Bumrah Pips Pat Cummins To Win The ICC Player Of The Month Award For December

India’s fast bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah piped Australian captain Pat Cummins to win the ICC Player Of The Month award for December following his exceptional performance in the Border Gavaskar Trophy where he single-handedly kept India in the game by picking up wickets whenever he came to bowl. Bumrah picked up 32 wickets in five matches before suffering a back injury on the second day of the fifth and final Test in Sydney.

Player’s Corner

Expressing his emotions upon receiving the Award Bumrah said “I am thrilled to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December. It is always humbling to be chosen for individual accolades, and it is always nice to be recognized for your efforts.”  “The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was one of the most closely fought contests ever, and it was an honour for me to go out there and perform for my country,” he added.

The Award

This was the second instance of Bumrah winning the Player Of The Month award in 2024. The fast bowler also won the Player Of The Month award for his exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 held in June where he guided India to its first ICC title in 11 years and first World Cup title in 13 years. If we talk about the contenders for the award, Bumrah faced tough competition from the Australian captain Pat Cummins who also was in good form during the Border Gavaskar Trophy and contributed with both bat and ball to help the Aussies reclaim the trophy after 10 years.

The Concern

However, Bumrah’s one-man show in the five-match Test series has been followed by a major back injury which has put his participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in doubt. Jasprit Bumrah has consulted a New Zealand-based surgeon after facing a back issue. The fast bowler was unable to bowl after the first session on day two of the New Year’s Test and was rushed to hospital for scans as a result of which he didn’t take part in the rest of the match. However, he did come to bat during India’s second innings but wasn’t able to make any significant contribution.