Bengal pacer Mukesh Kumar, who tragically lost his father to a brain hemorrhage in 2019, was overwhelmed with emotions upon being selected for the Test and one-day squads for the upcoming West Indies tour. Reflecting on his selection, he expressed that his late father, who had initially opposed his pursuit of cricket, would have been proud to witness his progress.
Kumar’s inspiring journey of perseverance has been recounted several times over the past year. He left his village in Bihar and moved to Bengal in 2012 to assist his father in the family’s taxi business. Despite facing malnutrition and suffering from bone edema, a condition characterized by excessive fluid in the knees, the 29-year-old harbored a passion for cricket. His life took a positive turn when former Bengal speedster Ranadeb Bose took him under his wing.
Sharing his thoughts on his maiden call-up to the Indian Test team, Kumar told PTI: “My dream is now in front of me. I always wanted to be here—to play Tests for India. And, I’ve finally arrived. I’m sure dad would be happy now seeing my rise. Mom and dad’s support will always be there, as well as my friends’ belief in me… Vision 2020. Sourav Ganguly Sir, Joydeep (Mukherjee) Sir, and my guru Ranadeb Bose Sir, who has always guided me in red-ball cricket. Without their help, I don’t think I would have survived.”
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Having experienced numerous challenges and setbacks, the right-arm pacer described the feeling of being part of the Indian cricket setup as surreal. He remarked, “Kahan se start kiya tha, aur kahan pahuncha—from where I began and where I am now, it feels completely surreal.”
Kumar has accumulated valuable experience from 39 first-class matches, where he has taken 149 wickets at an average of 21.55, including six five-wicket hauls. He was also part of India’s standby players for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final against Australia at The Oval.
Recollecting the experience, Kumar expressed his gratitude for the learning opportunity. He shared, “Bowling in the nets in England conditions, Rohit and Virat paaji always guided me on where to bowl. Paras (Mhambrey) Sir provided me with some valuable insights, and I’m working on them.”
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Understanding that representing the country is no easy feat, Kumar acknowledged the dedication and effort required. He affirmed his commitment to maintaining the same level of hard work and giving his all, stating, “Getting to play for the country does not come easily. They don’t just pick you out of nowhere and make you play. I will always try to maintain the same hard work. I will give 100 percent.”
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, the 29-year-old had the opportunity to represent the Delhi Capitals (DC). Across ten games, he claimed seven wickets with a strike rate of 26.57.
