India's Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has named an unexpected Indian cricketer who he believes could excel in javelin throw: Jasprit Bumrah. Chopra made this surprising pick during a segment on Star Sports hosted by Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Chopra stated that fast bowlers possess the inherent strength, body coordination, and technique necessary for javelin throwing. He believes that a fit and strong Bumrah would be an ideal candidate to take up javelin throw if he weren't already a successful cricketer. "I think it would be a fast bowler for sure. So, I think a fully fit Jasprit Bumrah will be good at it," Chopra said.

Bumrah's recent performance in cricket highlights his physical abilities. In the first Test against England at Headingley, he secured his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Throughout 2024, Bumrah has been exceptional, claiming 78 wickets in just 15 Test matches, leading all fast bowlers globally during this period.

Interestingly, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has already tried javelin throw under Chopra's guidance. During a 2024 episode of Jio Cinema's 'Get Set Gold' show, Chopra challenged Karthik to throw the javelin at least 25 meters. After an initial unsuccessful attempt, Karthik managed to reach the target on his second try.

The announcement of Bumrah as a potential javelin star was made as part of the promotion for the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event, scheduled for July 5, which will be broadcast on Star Sports.

Neeraj Chopra won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He is also the reigning world champion and the world's number one ranked javelin thrower. In addition to recognizing talent, Chopra has also shown support for fellow athletes, including Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem. When Nadeem faced difficulties in acquiring a new javelin, Chopra voiced his support and urged the Pakistan government and sponsors to assist him.