Neeraj Chopra Touts Jasprit Bumrah's Potential as Javelin Thrower

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic champion, has identified an unexpected candidate who could potentially dominate the javelin throw arena: Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian cricket team's formidable fast bowler.

During a recent segment on Star Sports, hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chopra highlighted Bumrah's physical attributes and bowling techniques as key indicators of his suitability for the sport. Chopra emphasized that Bumrah's inherent fitness and strength would translate well to javelin throwing, were he not already a star 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 stated.

Bumrah's recent cricketing exploits further underscore his physical capabilities. In the first Test match against England, he showcased his prowess by securing his 14th five-wicket haul.

However, despite Bumrah's efforts, England secured a victory, chasing down a target of 371 runs, with Ben Duckett scoring 149. This win granted England a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.

Bumrah's statistics in 2024 speak volumes about his dominance, having claimed 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches, surpassing all other fast bowlers worldwide during the same period.

His workload reflects his importance to the team, having bowled 410.4 overs, the highest among all pace bowlers across the globe. Comparatively, Australia's Mitchell Starc has bowled 362.3 overs, while England's Gus Atkinson has bowled 328 overs, securing 54 wickets. Among Indian bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja is the only other player to have exceeded 400 overs, bowling 400.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj, having played the same number of matches as Bumrah, has bowled 355.3 overs.

Due to workload management, Bumrah is expected to be rested for the upcoming Test at Edgbaston, with Siraj anticipated to lead the pace attack.

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

This discussion highlights the potential crossover between cricket and track and field, emphasizing the shared physical demands of fast bowling and javelin throwing.

The announcement coincides with the promotion of the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event, scheduled for July 5.