Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) looked well set in their chase of the 279-run target to win their maiden Irani Cup title. Qamran Iqbal and Shubham Khajuria gave them a blistering start, while walking in at No. 3, Shubham Pundir struck a couple of boundaries. The scoreboard read 54 for one in the 11th over, and J&K were 65 for 2 when Mukesh Kumar asked stand-in captain Sarfaraz Khan for another over. With 214 runs still required and plenty of time remaining, it was safe to say that J&K had their noses ahead in the game.
Mukesh’s request produced immediate dividends. Pundir was beaten by a delivery that jagged back in and struck him on the pads. The next ball was a peach. J&K captain Paras Dogra was beaten by the away movement, and the red cherry crashed into the top of middle stump. Mukesh went on to account for four more batters and finished with figures of 6 for 33.
Since the latest edition of the Duleep Trophy, Mukesh Kumar has looked in a different touch. A match haul of 7 for 100 in the semi-final against Central Zone, followed by 3 for 62 against South Zone in the final, and an impressive outing in the Irani Cup have strengthened his case for a place in India’s upcoming squad.
“I worked on my fitness and consistency”
Mukesh played his last Test for India in February 2024 and subsequently found himself out of the national reckoning. But now, he appears to have rediscovered his rhythm. What has he changed since last season? In an exclusive chat with The CricHub over the phone, Mukesh said, “After the semi-final [Ranji Trophy] last year, I worked more on my fitness and consistency.”
One of Mukesh’s strengths has been his ability to extract movement from the surface. He is not an express pacer, but when there is any hint of movement, his immaculate precision works in his favour.
“We do not get seaming wickets too often. Last season, it was mostly flat, but when we played at the CoE [Centre of Excellence], we got a seaming track. Playing at Eden Gardens, we know how to use the seaming track, and it also helps you understand how to bowl on a flat wicket too,” Mukesh said.
Paras Dogra’s wicket became a testament to Mukesh Kumar’s ability to exploit seam movement. The delivery that dismissed the veteran batter nipped away and beat his defence. Were there any specific plans for the dismissal? Mukesh revealed that it was more of a bluff aimed at Dogra.
“In the last Ranji Trophy, I got his wicket with a short ball. He is a steady player, and his partnership with Samad [Abdul Samad] could have been big. So we set a field for short balls and got the wicket with a length delivery,” he said.
The Mukesh-Akash Deep pair has spearheaded Bengal’s pace attack for the last five seasons. Their partnership can be extremely lethal, and the J&K batters felt the impact in the second innings. Mukesh believes it is their partnership bowling that makes the difference. The two complement each other well and share practical advice about the conditions to get the best possible result.
“When you play for the same state, you develop a clear understanding, and that is a good thing to have,” Mukesh said.
After his recent exploits with the ball, Mukesh’s name has resurfaced in discussions around another India selection, this time for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, where the wickets and conditions will suit his kind of bowling. But the vastly experienced Bengal seamer is not thinking too much about it.
“Selection is in the selectors’ hands”
“When I have the ball in hand, my job is to bowl. Selection is in the selectors’ hands. Now I have five days of preparatory time before the first Ranji game. I fully enjoy my bowling whenever I get the ball,” he said.
Bengal will begin their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy campaign against Delhi on October 11. With several players in contention for national selection expected to use the tournament to sharpen their skills, Mukesh is no exception. In a rich vein of form, the Bengal seamer will look to make the most of the opportunity for his state team and beyond, if the opportunity comes.
