Neeraj Chopra Touts Jasprit Bumrah's Javelin Potential: Olympic Champion Sees Cricket Star Excel in Track and Field

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic gold medalist, has made a surprising pick for a cricketer who could potentially dominate the javelin throw: Jasprit Bumrah. Chopra believes Bumrah possesses the necessary physical attributes and techniques to excel in the sport.

India's Neeraj Chopra (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)

During a recent segment on Star Sports hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chopra highlighted Bumrah's exceptional fitness and strength as key factors that would translate well to javelin throwing. He emphasized that if Bumrah weren't already a prominent figure in cricket, he could easily succeed 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.

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

While England ultimately won the match by successfully chasing a target of 371 runs, Bumrah's contributions underscore his athletic capabilities. Currently in 2024, Bumrah leads all fast bowlers with 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches.

His workload has been significant, with Bumrah bowling 410.4 overs, the highest among all pace bowlers worldwide. This is more than Australia's Mitchell Starc (362.3 overs) and England's Gus Atkinson (328 overs, 54 wickets). Among Indian bowlers, only Ravindra Jadeja (400.1 overs) has exceeded 400 overs besides Bumrah.

Due to workload management, Bumrah is expected to rest for the upcoming Test at Edgbaston. Mohammed Siraj is likely 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, where India will try to level the series against England.

Chopra's comments highlight the potential crossover of athletic skills between cricket and track and field, particularly the physical similarities between fast bowling and javelin throwing.

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