Media365
Jasprit Bumrah is heading into the T20I series against South Africa with several major records within touching distance, adding extra intrigue as India resume white-ball action on Tuesday in Cuttack. India arrive at the five-match contest after a mixed fortnight in international cricket. A bruising 0–2 Test defeat at home was followed by a gripping ODI series, which India edged 2–1. Now, under the leadership duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir, who have maintained a perfect T20I series record so far, the focus shifts firmly to gearing up for next year’s T20 World Cup on home soil.
For Bumrah, the opening match could be historic. The fast bowler is just one wicket away from joining Arshdeep Singh in India’s exclusive 100-wicket club in T20 Internationals. Bumrah currently has 99 wickets from 80 matches at an outstanding average of 18.11, with 3/7 as his best return. Arshdeep leads the tally with 105 wickets from 68 games. Reaching the landmark will also make Bumrah the first Indian in history to claim a century of wickets in each international format. Another milestone is also looming. Bumrah needs only 18 more wickets to become the eighth Indian bowler to reach a combined 500 across formats. He is currently on 482 wickets in 221 appearances, averaging 20.60, including 13 four-wicket hauls and 18 five-fors, with career-best figures of 6/19.India squad for T20I series against SA: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington SundarNote: * Subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE. With India looking to build momentum and Bumrah chasing rare statistical heights, the series opener promises high stakes on multiple fronts.
