Neeraj Chopra Tipped Jasprit Bumrah for Javelin Success: Olympic Champion Sees Potential in Cricket Star

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic champion, has identified Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian cricket team's prominent fast bowler, as someone who could potentially excel in javelin throw. This surprising pick was revealed during a special segment on Star Sports, hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Neeraj Chopra believes Jasprit Bumrah possesses the physical attributes needed for javelin.

Chopra, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, based his assessment on the inherent physical attributes and techniques shared by fast bowlers. He emphasized that if Bumrah weren't already a star in cricket, his fitness and strength would make him a natural fit for the javelin throw.

"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 Bumrah's robust physical condition.

Bumrah's recent cricketing performance underscores his athletic capabilities. 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 by successfully chasing down a target of 371 runs, propelled by Ben Duckett's impressive 149 runs. This victory granted England a 1-0 lead in the ongoing five-match Test series.

Team India's rigorous practice session in Edgbaston.

In 2024, Bumrah's statistics demonstrate his exceptional form. He has claimed 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches, making him the leading fast bowler globally in terms of wickets taken during this period. His workload has been considerable, having bowled 410.4 overs, surpassing all other pace bowlers worldwide. Australia's Mitchell Starc trails behind with 362.3 overs, followed by England's Gus Atkinson with 328 overs and 54 wickets. Among Indian bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja is the only other player to have exceeded 400 overs, bowling 400.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj, who has played the same number of matches as Bumrah, has bowled 355.3 overs.

Given the need for workload management, Bumrah is anticipated to be rested for the upcoming Test at Edgbaston. Siraj is expected to spearhead the pace attack, despite a less-than-stellar performance in the Headingley Test.

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 regarding Bumrah's potential in javelin throw underscores the overlap of athletic prowess between cricket and track and field events, particularly the shared physical demands of fast bowling and javelin throwing.

The announcement also served as a promotional lead-up to the Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event, scheduled for July 5, which will be broadcast on Star Sports.