Bumrah was given his distinction on Saturday, January 4, when he became the first Indian bowler to take 32 wickets in an away Test series. He made this milestone in the ongoing fifth Test at Sydney Cricket Ground between India and Australia by removing Marnus Labuschagne for 2 runs this morning, in the morning session of the 2nd day’s play. The 31-year-old pacer now has a total of 32 wickets after five Tests in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia.
Bumrah now has the record for the most wickets by an Indian in a Test series played outside India, beating the record of former India captain and legendary bowler Bishan Singh Bedi. Bedi ended his Test series against Australia in 1977-78 with a tally of 31 scales in five matches. He had equaled Bedi’s record Friday after dismissing Australian opener Khawaja.
Most wickets in a Test series for India away from home
Jasprit Bumrah – 32* (vs Australia, 2024-25)
Bishan Singh Bedi – 31 (vs Australia, 1977-78)
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar – 28 (vs Australia, 1977-78)
Subhash Gupte – 26 (vs West Indies, 1952-53)
Kapil Dev – 25 (vs Australia, 1991-92).
khawaja was caught at the second slip by KL Rahul off the very last ball of the day for 2 runs.
Bumrah’s second wicket of the ongoing match at the Sydney Cricket Ground equaled the Harbhajan Singh record of the most wickets taken in a Test series between India and Australia. In the 2001 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, played in India, Harbhajan took 32 Australia wickets in three matches.
One more wicket in the ongoing match will help Bumrah break Harbhajan’s 24-year-old record and take No. 1 rank in the elite list.
However, the overall record for picking most wickets for India in a Test series belongs to former spinner Bhagwath Chandrasekhar. During the India-England Test series played at home in 1972-73, Bhagwath picked up the wicket of 35 batters. Bumrah would have to take four more wickets in Sydney to leapfrog him and take the No. 1 position.
Before soaring to haul two wickets in this fifth Test against Australia, Bumrah had also impressed while batting as he scored 22 runs off 17 balls, hitting three fours and a six as a No. 10 batter. He shared 20 runs for the ninth wicket with Prasidh Krishna (3) and 17 runs for the 10th wicket with Mohammed Siraj (3) to add to India’s total runs in their first innings of 185 in 72.2 overs.
