Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah among Wisden’s ‘Five Cricketers of the Year’
India’s captain Rohit Sharma and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah were among the “Five Cricketers of the Year” named by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2022.
Rohit and Bumrah, who are currently playing for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the ongoing IPL 2022, joined New Zealand batsman Devon Conway, England fast bowler Ollie Robinson, South Africa’s woman cricketer Dane van Niekerk in the Wisden list announced on Wednesday (April 20).
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England batsman Joe Root, who recently quit as Test captain, and South African woman player Lizelle Lee have been named the “Leading Cricketers in the World”. Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is the “Leading Twenty20 Cricketer in the World”.
Wisden’s editor, Lawrence Booth has chosen the five cricketers of the year. According to him, they “represent a tradition that dates back to 1889, making this the oldest individual award in cricket. Excellence in, or influence on, the previous English summer are the major criteria for inclusion as a Cricketer of the Year. No one can be chosen more than once”.
On Rohit, who is now India’s all-format captain, Booth said, “Indian opener Rohit Sharma was at the heart of his side’s 2-1 lead over England, and played starring roles with the bat at Lord’s, where he made an elegant 83 in treacherous conditions, and at The Oval, where his superb 127 helped India overcome a first-innings deficit of 99. His series tally of 368 runs …was higher than any of his teammates.”
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He added: “Jasprit Bumrah was central to India’s two Test wins last summer, taking three for 33 on the final afternoon at Lord’s, then thrillingly bowling Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow in successive overs to hasten his team to victory at The Oval. Had rain not washed out the last day of the first Test at Trent Bridge, his nine wickets there might have led to an Indian win, too. In all, he managed 18 wickets at 20 apiece in the four Tests, and scored some unexpected — and crucial — tailend runs.”
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During India’s tour to England last year, the Virat Kohli-led team held a 2-1 lead before the fifth and final Test in Manchester in July was postponed due to COVID-19 cases in the Indian camp. The series will be completed this year in July at Edgbaston.
