Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra Predicts Cricket Star Jasprit Bumrah Could Excel in Javelin

Saturday - 19/07/2025 03:01

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra believes Jasprit Bumrah possesses the fitness and strength to excel in javelin throw, highlighting the crossover of athletic abilities. Bumrah's impressive 2024 performance includes 78 wickets in 15 Test matches, leading all fast bowlers globally in wickets and overs bowled.

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic champion, has made a surprising prediction about which Indian cricketer could potentially dominate in the javelin throw. During a recent segment on Star Sports, hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chopra singled out Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian cricket team's fast bowler, as someone with the innate abilities to succeed in the sport.

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

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

Chopra's assessment stems from the inherent physical attributes and techniques that fast bowlers develop. He emphasized Bumrah's exceptional fitness and strength as crucial components that would translate well to javelin throwing, were he not already a prominent figure 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, highlighting Bumrah's capabilities.

Bumrah's recent cricketing performances underscore his athletic prowess. In the first Test match against England at Headingley, he achieved his 14th five-wicket haul in the first innings.

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His significant workload is evident, having bowled 410.4 overs, the most among all pace bowlers globally. This exceeds Mitchell Starc of Australia, who bowled 362.3 overs, and Gus Atkinson of England with 328 overs and 54 wickets. Among Indian bowlers, only Ravindra Jadeja bowled over 400 overs with 400.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj, despite playing the same number of matches as Bumrah, has bowled 355.3 overs.

Bumrah is expected to be rested for the upcoming Test at Edgbaston to manage his workload. Siraj is expected to spearhead the pace attack, despite his poor showing in the Headingley Test.

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

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

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