The year 2024 was fantastic for Test cricket. It began with the West Indies’ heroics at the Gabba, followed by an entertaining India vs England Test series. The heartbreak for the Indian fans was the demolition at the hands of New Zealand. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) has just added up to all the excitement of Test cricket. We all know the real matchwinner of the season has been Jasprit Bumrah, who has been just unplayable. His unmatched skill and mastery made him the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket for 2024. Let’s take a closer look at the top performers of the year.
Top 3 players with most Test wickets in 2024
Jasprit Bumrah (IND): 71 wickets at 14.92
Jasprit Bumrah was nothing short of extraordinary in 2024, taking 71 wickets in just 13 matches. Widely regarded as the best bowler of this generation, Bumrah’s ability to swing the ball both ways, coupled with his lethal yorkers, made him unplayable for most batters. With an average of just 14.92 and best figures of 6/45, he has single-handedly carried the Indian bowling on his shoulder – something that even captain Rohit Sharma has felt. Bumrah’s tally of 71 wickets in the most by any pacer since Dale Steyn’s tally of 74 in 2008.
Gus Atkinson (ENG): 52 wickets at 22.15
England’s Gus Atkinson emerged as one of the brightest bowling talents in 2024, finishing the year with 52 wickets in 11 matches. He is probably the debutant of the year. While James Anderson’s void would obviously won’t be filled, Atkinson’s remarkable spells were something to behold for the Three Lions. He made his debut in July but breached the 50-wicket mark by the end of 2024. The lad took a 12-wicket haul at home, scored a century, and even took a fantastic hattrick to wrap up a terrific 2024.
Shoaib Bashir (ENG): 49 wickets at 40.16
Shoaib Bashir had an impactful year for England, picking up 49 wickets in 15 matches. After making a belated Test debut for England in February following visa issues, the 21-year-old went on to be the third leading wicket taker in Test match cricket in 2024. His standout performance, 5/41, came on a track that was conducive to pace bowling in Nottingham.
Top 10 highest wicket-takers in 2024 ft. Bumrah
| Rank | Player | Matches | Wickets | Best Figures | Average | 5W/10W |
| 1 | Jasprit Bumrah | 13 | 71 | 6/45 | 14.92 | 5/0 |
| 2 | Gus Atkinson | 11 | 52 | 7/45 | 22.15 | 3/1 |
| 3 | Shoaib Bashir | 15 | 49 | 5/41 | 40.16 | 3/0 |
| 4 | Matt Henry | 9 | 48 | 7/67 | 18.58 | 3/0 |
| 5 | Ravindra Jadeja | 12 | 48 | 5/41 | 24.29 | 3/1 |
| 6 | Prabath Jayasuriya | 9 | 48 | 6/42 | 32.2 | 4/0 |
| 7 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 11 | 47 | 6/88 | 27.25 | 3/0 |
| 8 | Pat Cummins | 9 | 37 | 5/57 | 24.02 | 2/0 |
| 9 | Avishka Fernando | 9 | 37 | 5/102 | 24.48 | 1/0 |
| 10 | William O’Rourke | 10 | 36 | 5/34 | 24.8 | 2/0 |
Most Test Wickets for India
India’s bowling attack shone brightly in 2024, with Jasprit Bumrah leading from the front. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin continued their dominance in the spin department. Ashwin, however, announced his retirement late into the year. Mohammed Siraj, who bowled a lot in the entire year is also on the list. Kuldeep Yadav, who played the Test series against England, is also on the list.
| Rank | Player | Matches | Wickets | Best Figures | Average | 5W/10W |
| 1 | Bumrah | 13 | 71 | 6/45 | 14.92 | 5/0 |
| 2 | R Jadeja | 12 | 48 | 5/41 | 24.29 | 3/1 |
| 3 | R Ashwin | 11 | 47 | 6/88 | 27.25 | 3/0 |
| 4 | Mohammed Siraj | 13 | 35 | 6/15 | 30.82 | 1/0 |
| 5 | Kuldeep Yadav | 5 | 22 | 5/72 | 23.09 | 1/0 |
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