Neeraj Chopra Touts Jasprit Bumrah's Potential as Javelin Thrower

Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic champion, has made a surprising pick for an Indian cricketer who could potentially excel in javelin throw. During a recent segment on Star Sports, hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chopra identified Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian cricket team's fast bowler, as having the right attributes for the sport.

Chopra based his assessment on the inherent physical capabilities and techniques that fast bowlers often possess. He specifically emphasized Bumrah's exceptional fitness and strength as crucial factors that would translate well to javelin throwing, had Bumrah not already established himself in cricket.

"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 on Star Sports.

Bumrah's recent cricketing performances underscore his remarkable physical condition. In the first Test match against England at Headingley, he achieved his 14th five-wicket haul in the first innings.

Despite Bumrah's efforts, England secured a victory in that match, successfully chasing a target of 371 runs, with Ben Duckett's impressive score of 149. This victory gave England a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.

Bumrah's statistics in 2024 are a testament to his outstanding abilities. He has claimed an impressive 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches, making him the leading fast bowler worldwide during this period.

His workload has been considerable, having bowled 410.4 overs, which is the highest among all pace bowlers globally. This surpasses Australia's Mitchell Starc, who has bowled 362.3 overs, and England's Gus Atkinson with 328 overs and 54 wickets. Among Indian bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja is the only other player to exceed 400 overs, bowling 400.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj, who has played the same number of matches as Bumrah, has bowled 355.3 overs.

Due to workload management considerations, Bumrah is expected to be rested for the upcoming Test at Edgbaston. Siraj is anticipated to lead the pace attack, despite his underwhelming performance in the Headingley Test.

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

This discussion about Bumrah's potential in javelin throw highlights the intersection of athletic skills between cricket and track and field events, recognizing the similarities in physical demands between fast bowling and javelin throwing.

The announcement was made in conjunction with the promotion of the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event, scheduled for July 5, which will be broadcast on Star Sports.