Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra Tips Jasprit Bumrah for Javelin Success

Neeraj Chopra Identifies Cricketer With Javelin Potential

Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic champion, has made a surprising pick for a cricketer who could potentially dominate in javelin throw: Jasprit Bumrah. During a segment on Star Sports, hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chopra explained his reasoning, citing Bumrah's physical attributes and the techniques shared between fast bowling and javelin.

India's Neeraj Chopra believes Jasprit Bumrah has the physical attributes to succeed in javelin (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)

Chopra emphasized Bumrah's fitness and strength as key factors. He believes that if Bumrah weren't already a successful cricketer, his physical capabilities would make him a strong contender in javelin. "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.

Bumrah's recent cricketing performance further supports Chopra's assessment. In the first Test match against England at Headingley, Bumrah showcased his prowess by securing his 14th five-wicket haul in the first innings.

England ultimately won the match, chasing down a target of 371 runs, with Ben Duckett scoring 149. This victory gave England a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.

Bumrah's statistics in 2024 highlight his exceptional bowling skills. He has taken 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches, leading all fast bowlers globally during this period.

He has bowled 410.4 overs, the highest among all pace bowlers worldwide. Australia's Mitchell Starc has bowled 362.3 overs, and England's Gus Atkinson has bowled 328 overs and taken 54 wickets. Among Indian bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja is the only other player to exceed 400 overs, bowling 400.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj, who has played the same number of matches as Bumrah, has bowled 355.3 overs.

Given his heavy workload, Bumrah is expected to be rested for the upcoming Test at Edgbaston. Siraj is expected to lead the pace attack, despite his performance in the Headingley Test.

The second Test of the series is scheduled to begin on July 2 in Birmingham. India aims to level the series against England.

This discussion underscores the potential crossover of athletic skills between cricket and track and field, particularly the shared physical demands of fast bowling and javelin throwing.

The announcement coincides with the promotion of the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event, scheduled for July 5, to be broadcast on Star Sports.