Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra Taps Star Cricketer Jasprit Bumrah as Potential Javelin Prodigy

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic gold medalist in javelin, has made a surprising prediction about a cricketer who could potentially excel in the sport. During a recent segment on Star Sports, hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chopra identified Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian cricket team's fast bowler, as a promising javelin thrower.

Chopra's assessment is rooted in the inherent physical attributes and techniques shared by fast bowlers and javelin athletes. He specifically emphasized Bumrah's exceptional fitness and strength as key factors that could translate into success 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 on Star Sports, highlighting the bowler's athletic capabilities.

Bumrah's recent cricketing performances further underscore his physical prowess. In the first Test match against England at Headingley, he showcased his talent 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 an impressive 149 runs. This victory gave England a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.

Bumrah's statistics in 2024 speak volumes about his exceptional abilities. He has claimed 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches, leading all fast bowlers globally during this period. His commitment is evident in the 410.4 overs he has bowled, the highest among all pace bowlers worldwide.

Australia's Mitchell Starc follows with 362.3 overs, and England's Gus Atkinson with 328 overs and 54 wickets. Among Indian bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja is the only other player to exceed 400 overs, bowling 400.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj, despite playing the same number of matches as Bumrah, has bowled 355.3 overs.

Due to workload management, Bumrah is expected to be rested for the upcoming Test at Edgbaston. Siraj is likely to lead the pace attack, despite his less-than-stellar performance in the Headingley Test.

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

This discussion around Bumrah's potential in javelin highlights the surprising overlap of athletic abilities between cricket and track and field, particularly the similarities in physical requirements for fast bowling and javelin throwing.

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