Jasprit Bumrah, Cummins In Race For ICC's Player Of The Month Award After BGT Heroics

Jasprit Bumrah finds place in ICC's honour list for December month [Source: @MidnightMusinng/X.com]

Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been shortlisted for ICC Player of the Month award for the month of December 2024. Australia captain Pat Cummins and South Africa's Dane Paterson also featured in the list of the nominees.

Bumrah, the backbone of India's bowling lineup, led a carnage in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He picked up 32 wickets at an astonishing average of 14.22 to lead a lone battle for his side with the ball. However, an unfortunate injury forced him out of the final innings of the Sydney Test.

Nevertheless, Jasprit Bumrah's show in the month of December was more than good enough to earn him a nomination for the ICC Player of the Month award. 

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Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins shortlisted for Player of the Month award

That said, the competition for Jasprit Bumrah will not be easy with Australian captain Pat Cummins, who led from the front in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, collecting 17 wickets at an average of 17.64. 

The all-round performances with the ball and crucial knocks with the bat in Melbourne earned Australia a ticket to the WTC 2025 Final. As captain, Cummins led his team to a historic Border-Gavaskar series win.

Dane Paterson of South Africa is also one of the nominees for the Player of the Month Award. The Proteas seamer was instrumental in South Africa's WTC campaign, taking 13 wickets at an average of 16.92. 

He chipped in with some vital five-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in helping his side win matches. Thanks to his brilliance, his team qualified for the WTC 2025 finals. Voting will now open on the ICC's official website before the results will be declared next week.

Bumrah's Champions Trophy participation in jeopardy

Jasprit Bumrah sustained a back spasm due to an excessive workload during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The media report that the seriousness of the injury is yet to be ascertained. If he crossed the grade 1 level, Bumrah might be ruled out for the Champions Trophy 2025, which will start in February. For now, the BCCI is keeping an eye on the situation. He will rest from the upcoming ODI series against England and, as per his rehabilitation procedure, the board will finally take a call.

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