MS Dhoni and Mukesh Kumar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Mukesh Kumar has been a consistent performer in the domestic circuit for Bengal. He was picked by Delhi Capitals (DC) in the auction for Rs 5.50 crores ahead of the Indian Premier League 2023. The seamer made his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants in April. He bowled some difficult overs for DC and finished with seven wickets in 10 games.
During the IPL, Kumar got the experience of playing alongside some of the stalwarts of the game. In a recent interview, the 29-year-old revealed the advice he received from Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni. The right-arm pacer said that the legendary captain told him to go out and try what he wants to and learn from the results.
“I always wanted to meet Dhoni bhaiya and ask him a couple of things. This happened because of the IPL. I met him and the first thing I asked him – ‘What exactly do you tell your bowlers as a captain and wicketkeeper?'” Kumar said during an interview with the Times of India.
“He put his hands around my shoulders and said, ‘I tell this to every bowler that till the time you won’t try, you won’t learn.’ He said – ‘You need to do exactly what you want to do. If you won’t, you will not learn.’ He said to forget the outcome, and just go and try. He explained this thing really well to me,” the pacer concluded.
Mukesh Kumar’s impressive numbers in domestic cricket
Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, and Ishan Porel have formed a lethal troika for Bengal as these pacers manage to hunt together and their efforts have helped Bengal reach the finals in two out of the last three Ranji Trophy seasons.
Speaking about Kumar, the Gopalganj-born bowler, has picked up 149 wickets in 39 first-class games at an average of 21.55. White-ball cricket isn’t his stronger suit if we compare it to his red-ball stats. In List A cricket, he has 26 wickets to his name in the 24 matches he has played, averaging 37.46.
It will be interesting to see how Kumar fares in international cricket if he is given a chance in India’s upcoming tour of the West Indies. The seamer received a maiden call-up to the Indian Test side and has also been picked in the squad for the ODIs. The first Test begins on July 12, in Roseau, Dominica.