BCCI recommends Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Poonam Yadav for Arjuna Award

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday recommended the names of four Indian cricketers for the Arjuna Award. The prestigious award is given by the Sports Ministry to recognise outstanding achievement in the field of sports. Senior Indian team pacers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Ravindra Jadeja along with Indian women's team star Poonam Yadav have been recommended for the award by the BCCI. 

Yadav has been a vital cog in the Indian women's team in the limited overs format. She is a leg-spinner, who can also be handy with the bat. She was impressive for India in their ODI and T20I series against England Women with 4 wickets and two wickets respectively. She has played total 41 ODIs, 54 T20Is and a solitary Test for India picking up 63, 74 and 3 wickets respectively in the three formats. 

Shami, Jadeja and Bumrah have all been terrific for the Indian men's team across formats. The trio is a part of India's World Cup squad as well and will travel to England with the rest of the squad as the Men in Blue look to bring the coveted trophy back home. 

Shami was particularly impressive for India on the New Zealand tour, earlier this year as he played an



instrumental role in Virat Kohli & Co's 4-1 ODI series triumph. Shami picked up nine wickets in four games for India finishing as the highest Indian wicket-taker in the ODI series joint with spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

With his stellar show, Shami booked his spot in the World Cup squad as he carried on his fine form in the ODI series against Australia at home where he picked up 5 wickets in 4 games. With 14 wickets in 11 games for Kings XI Punjab in the ongoing Indian Premier League, Shami will hope he can continue his good run at the World Cup for India. 

Bumrah is currently the no.1 bowler in ODIs and has been pivotal to India's success across formats. With 21 wickets in 4 games, Bumrah was the joint highest wicket-taker with Nathan Lyon in the Test series against Australia, which India won 2-1 to script history by becoming the first ever Asian side to win a Test series on Australian soil. 

Bumrah will be spearheading India's pace attack at the World Cup and is key to India's success at the showpiece event. Meanwhile, Jadeja too like Shami made a stunning comeback to the ODI setup in the Asia Cup last year and impressed with his performances to book a spot in the World Cup squad.