India’s ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is all set to return to action with the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa, starting on December 9 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the recent ODI series that India won by a 2-1 margin to manage his workload.
All eyes are on Bumrah as he walks into the T20I series opener with some huge milestones right in front of him. The first T20I between India and South Africa in Cuttack is not just another game, as it could become one of the most memorable and historic nights of the pacer’s career.
Cuttack T20I set to become a landmark night for Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah needs just one wicket to join Arshdeep Singh in India’s 100-wicket club in T20 Internationals. At the moment, Arshdeep leads the list with 105 wickets in 68 matches, while Bumrah has 99 wickets from 80 games at an excellent average of 18.11. His best performance in T20Is is 3 for 7.
If he manages to get one wicket in Cuttack, Bumrah will become the first Indian bowler ever to pick up 100 wickets in all three formats of international cricket-Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. No Indian has done this before. He is also on the verge of achieving another big milestone in Cuttack.
Bumrah needs only 18 more wickets to become the eighth Indian bowler to reach a combined total of 500 wickets across all three formats of the game for the country.
Jasprit Bumrah’s India stats
Presently, the champion bowler has 482 wickets in 221 international matches at a brilliant average of 20.60. His record includes 13 four-wicket hauls, 18 five-wicket hauls, and his career-best figures of 6 for 19.
There are high chances of Bumrah achieving this milestone in the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa, should he play all games of the home series.
On the other hand, the Men in Blue are entering into the T20I series after a mixed two weeks at home. Last month, India suffered a tough 0-2 defeat in the Test series at home but then fought back strongly to win the ODI series 2-1 against the Proteas side.
India enters final 10-match rehearsal as ICC T20 World Cup 2026 countdown begins
Now, the focus now shifts to the shortest format, where Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir have formed a successful leadership pair. They have not lost a T20I series yet, and with the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 just a couple of months away, they would love to continue their winning momentum.
India now has only 10 T20I matches left before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 begins in February, and these games will act like a final practice before the real tournament starts. After the South Africa T20Is, they will also play another five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January.
This is the time for the Indian cricket team to test their players, try out their plans, and make sure everything is in place. Notably, the Men in Blue will begin their title defense on February 7, taking on the US at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.