Jasprit Bumrah wins the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for June 2024

Jasprit Bumrah led the Indian contingent emphatically in the latest edition of the T20 World Cup. Consequently, he was also awarded the ICC Player of the Month award for June 2024 for his sterling showmanship with the ball in his hands.

Such was Bumrah’s authority that he became the first player in the history of the T20 World Cup to win the Player of the Series award without scoring a single run in the tournament. Neither he was the highest wicket taker of the tournament but the sheer sizeable impact that he had in the tournament was marvellous.

In the long race to the mantle, Bumrah edged past Afghanistan’s Rahmanulah Gurbaz and his own captain, Rohit Sharma to lift the prized award for the month. Bumrah was undoubtedly the finest in the Indian threads with the ball in his hands, who played one of the most imperative roles in helping India to the trophy.

The 30-year-old quick registered 15 wickets in the tournament at a meagre average of 8.26 while chronicling an economy rate of 4.17. He joined the elite club with Virat Kohli of being the second Indian to win the Player of the Tournament award in the antiquity of the T20 World Cup.

He started the tournament with a bang, registering figures of 3/6 against Ireland while following that up with a match-winning campaign against Pakistan where he claimed figures of 3/14 while also scalping Mohammad Rizwan, the wicket that completely changed the course of the game.

Despite not being able to claim any wicket against USA, he was back to his stunning best in the Super Eights, claiming six wickets from the three games against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Australia. Bumrah struck big again in the semis where he claimed figures of 2/12 against England while finishing the tournament with figures of 2/18 from four overs, a spell that forced South Africa to hit their brash mode despite being in a comfortable position.

Talking to ICC on receiving the award, Bumrah said, “I am delighted to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for June. It’s a special honour for me following a memorable few weeks spent in the USA and West Indies. We have had a lot to celebrate as a team, and I’m delighted to be able to add this personal accolade to the list.”

He continued, “To perform as well as we did at the tournament and lift the trophy at the end is incredibly special, and I will carry those memories with me forever.”

Bumrah continued, “I wish to congratulate my captain Rohit Sharma and Rahmanullah Gurbaz for their excellent performances in the same period, and I am humbled to have been chosen as the winner.”

He concluded by saying, “Finally, I want to thank my family, all of my teammates and coaches as well as the fans who have voted for me. Their support pushes me to compete at the best of my ability in national colours."