India’s prized fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is nearly ready to take part in the action again with the South Africa series of five-match T20I scheduled to start on December 9 at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. Bumrah, the ace bowler, had been allowed rest during the last ODI series which India won 2-1 to manage his workload.
The series opener between India and South Africa in Cuttack will not just be another match but a potential career-making night for the pacer, who has huge milestones in front of him to achieve with the T20I series.
Cuttack T20I set to become a landmark night for Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah is just one wicket away from becoming the second Indian after Arshdeep Singh to enter into the T20 Internationals 100-wicket club. Currently, Arshdeep is at the top with 105 wickets in 68 matches, whereas Bumrah has 99 wickets from 80 outings at an excellent average of 18.11. The bowler’s best performance in T20Is has been 3 for 7.
If he does take a wicket in Cuttack, Bumrah will be the first Indian bowler to accomplish the feat of 100 wickets in all three formats of international cricket—Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He is also close to yet another milestone in Cuttack.
Bumrah requires just 18 more wickets to be the eighth Indian bowler to achieve a combined total of 500 wickets across all three formats of the game.
Jasprit Bumrah’s India Stats
Currently, the champion bowler has taken 482 wickets in 221 international matches at an impeccable average of 20.60. His record also includes 13 four-wicket hauls, 18 five-wicket hauls, and the outstanding figures of 6 for 19.
Bumrah is statistically very likely to hit this milestone in the next T20I series against South Africa comprising of five matches if he is to participate in each and every home match.
Conversely, the Indian squad is entering the T20I series after a somewhat tumultuous and mixed two weeks of playing at home. Last month, India experienced a bitter 0–2 loss in the Test series played at home, however, they then fought back and were able to take the ODI series 2-1 against the Proteas.
India enters the last 10-match rehearsal as the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 countdown begins
Furthermore, the focus has shifted to the shortest format where Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir have already created a successful combo. They have yet to lose a T20I series, and with the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 looming in just a few months, they would be eager to keep their winning streak going.
India only has 10 T20I matches left before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 starts in February, and these matches will serve as a final practice before the real tournament begins. Following the South Africa T20Is, they will also engage in another five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January.
This is the moment when the Indian cricket team needs to make a thorough assessment of their players, test their strategies, and ensure that everything is ready. It is worth mentioning that the Men in Blue will commence their title defense on February 7 against the US in the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.