Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is close to breaking a special Test record held by Pakistan’s legendary pacer Wasim Akram. With the Manchester Test coming up, Bumrah needs just 5 more wickets in 2025 to surpass Akram’s mark of 50 Test wickets in a single calendar year-a milestone no Asian pacer has matched so far.
So far in 2025, Bumrah has already taken 46 Test wickets, positioning himself as one of the most dominant bowlers this year. With four more Test matches likely to come before the end of the year, the possibility of Bumrah not only matching but surpassing Akram’s record is quite high.
Career Comparison: Bumrah vs Akram
Here’s how the two pace legends stack up against each other:
Bowler Test Matches Played Total Test Wickets Best in a Calendar Year
Jasprit Bumrah 33 229 46 (2025, so far)
Wasim Akram: 104 Tests, 414 wickets, 50+ wickets in a calendar year.
While Akram has played significantly more matches and remains one of the most iconic left-arm pacers in cricket history, Bumrah’s pace, accuracy, and consistency have made him one of the fiercest bowlers of the modern era.
Eyes Set on Multiple Milestones
Bumrah’s potential milestone goes beyond just a calendar-year wicket tally. He’s also closing in on another major milestone. If he claims a five-wicket haul in any innings during the ongoing or upcoming matches, he will become the first Asian fast bowler to register 12 five-wicket hauls against SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) teams.
At present, Bumrah has taken 11 five-wicket hauls in Tests against these top teams, putting him level with Wasim Akram. One more such performance would place him in a league of his own.
What’s at Stake in the Manchester Test?
The Manchester Test is not just another match in the cricketing calendar-it could be a game where history is rewritten. Bumrah’s form, pitch conditions, and opposition vulnerabilities all make it a high-stakes opportunity for him.
If Bumrah performs well:
He could break Wasim Akram’s calendar-year wicket record.
He might become the most successful fast bowler of 2025 in Tests.
He has the chance to raise the bar for Asian pacers in SENA nations
Final Thoughts: A New Chapter in Fast Bowling Legacy?
Jasprit Bumrah’s rise in Test cricket has been nothing short of phenomenal. Famous for his deadly yorkers and unique bowling style, Bumrah has firmly established himself as one of the modern era’s elite fast bowlers. Breaking a record held by a legend like Wasim Akram would not only be a personal milestone but also a symbolic passing of the torch from one generation of Asian pacers to the next.
Cricket fans around the world will be watching closely as Bumrah steps onto the field in Manchester, possibly to make history.
