Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra Touts Jasprit Bumrah's Javelin Potential

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic champion, has spotlighted Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian cricket team's prominent fast bowler, as a potential javelin star. This surprising pick was revealed during a recent segment on Star Sports, hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu. Chopra's assessment stems from his observation of the physical attributes and techniques inherent in fast bowlers.

India's Neeraj Chopra believes Jasprit Bumrah has the fitness required for javelin.

Chopra emphasized Bumrah's exceptional fitness and inherent strength as pivotal elements that could seamlessly translate into javelin success, had Bumrah not already found his niche 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, highlighting the bowler's robust physique.

Bumrah's recent cricketing endeavors underscore his athletic capabilities. In the first Test match against England at Headingley, he showcased his skill by claiming his 14th five-wicket haul in the first innings.

Despite his efforts, England secured a victory by successfully chasing a target of 371 runs, with Ben Duckett's impressive score of 149 leading the charge. This triumph gave England a 1-0 advantage in the ongoing five-match Test series.

Bumrah's statistics in 2024 are a testament to his outstanding performance. He has taken 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches, marking him as the leading fast bowler globally during this period.

Team India preparing for the second Test against England

His workload has been substantial, with 410.4 overs bowled, the most among all pace bowlers worldwide. This exceeds 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 surpass 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 spearhead the pace attack, despite his less-than-stellar performance in the Headingley Test.

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

This discussion about Bumrah's javelin potential sheds light on the interconnectedness of athletic skills across cricket and track and field, especially the shared physical demands of fast bowling and javelin throwing.

The announcement served as part of the promotional campaign for the forthcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event, scheduled for July 5, which will be broadcast on Star Sports.