Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra Tips Cricketer Jasprit Bumrah for Javelin Success

Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic champion, has identified Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian cricket team's fast bowler, as a potential javelin thrower. This surprising assessment came during a recent segment on Star Sports, hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu. Chopra believes Bumrah's physical attributes and bowling techniques translate well to the world of javelin.

India's Neeraj Chopra believes Jasprit Bumrah has the potential to excel in javelin throw.

Chopra emphasized Bumrah's exceptional fitness and strength as crucial elements that would make him a natural fit for javelin throwing, had he not already found success in cricket.

"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 underscores his physical capabilities. In the first Test match against England, he achieved his 14th five-wicket haul in the first innings, showcasing his bowling talent.

Despite Bumrah's efforts, England secured a victory by successfully chasing a target of 371 runs, with Ben Duckett scoring 149. This win provided England with a 1-0 advantage in the five-match Test series.

Bumrah's statistics in 2024 highlight his impressive performance, having taken 78 wickets in only 15 Test matches, which is the most among fast bowlers globally during this period.

Team India prepares for the 2nd Test vs England.

His workload has been substantial, bowling 410.4 overs, the highest among all pace bowlers worldwide. Comparatively, Australia's Mitchell Starc bowled 362.3 overs, and England's Gus Atkinson bowled 328 overs and took 54 wickets.

Ravindra Jadeja is the only other Indian bowler to exceed 400 overs, with 400.1 overs bowled. Mohammed Siraj, who has played the same number of matches as Bumrah, has bowled 355.3 overs.

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

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

This discussion regarding Bumrah's potential in javelin throw underscores the interconnectedness of athletic skills between cricket and track and field, particularly the shared physical demands between fast bowling and javelin throwing.

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