The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its Test Team of the Year on Friday, with Indian stars Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Yashasvi Jaiswal earning well-deserved spots in the XI. Despite a challenging year for India in Test cricket, the trio stood out with their stellar performances. Australian skipper Pat Cummins, fresh off leading his team to a 3-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory, has been named the captain of the side.
Team Composition
The ICC lineup features a mix of top players from around the world. Alongside the three Indians, the team includes four English players—Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith. New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Matt Henry also made the cut, while Cummins is the only Australian representative. Interestingly, no South African players were included, even though the Proteas reached the final of the World Test Championship (WTC).
Jasprit Bumrah: A Record-Breaking Year
Bumrah was India’s standout performer in Test cricket in 2024. He kicked off the year with an incredible series against England, taking 19 wickets in four matches, including a stunning nine-wicket haul in Vishakhapatnam. Against Bangladesh, he added 11 wickets in two matches, maintaining his reputation as the best all-format bowler in the world.
In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Bumrah was a force to be reckoned with, claiming 32 wickets in the series. His performance in the series opener in Perth, where he led India to victory, highlighted his dominance. He also became the first bowler in history to average under 20 with a minimum of 200 Test wickets. Bumrah finished the year with an astounding 71 Test wickets at an average of 14.92.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: A Breakout Year
Yashasvi Jaiswal cemented his place as one of cricket’s brightest stars. The young left-hander amassed 712 runs in a home series against England, including two double centuries and three half-centuries. He made a significant impact in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring a brilliant 161 in Perth and ending the series as India’s top scorer with 391 runs.
Overall, Jaiswal finished 2024 with 1,478 Test runs at an impressive average of 54.74, second only to Joe Root.
Ravindra Jadeja: The All-Round Superstar
Ravindra Jadeja continued to prove his worth as one of the best all-rounders in the game. His year began with a brilliant performance against England in Hyderabad, where he scored 89 runs and took five wickets. He followed it up with a century in Rajkot and seven wickets in the same match, playing a pivotal role in India’s win.
In total, Jadeja scored 527 runs at an average of 29.27 and picked up 48 wickets at an average of 24.29 in 2024.
ICC Test Team of the Year
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
- Ben Duckett (England)
- Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
- Joe Root (England)
- Harry Brook (England)
- Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
- Jamie Smith (WK) (England)
- Ravindra Jadeja (India)
- Pat Cummins (C) (Australia)
- Matt Henry (New Zealand)
- Jasprit Bumrah (India)
The ICC Test Team of the Year reflects the dominance of individual brilliance across the cricketing world, with players like Bumrah, Jaiswal, and Jadeja ensuring India’s presence remains significant in global cricket.
