Mukesh Kumar: Army dreams, a father who hated cricket, struggles….triumph
Mukesh Kumar: Army dreams, a father who hated cricket, struggles….triumph. Mukesh Kumar’s dalliance with cricket began in 2008-09, when he participated in a “Pratibha ki Khoj” trial in the Gopalganj region of Bihar. Kumar took 34 wickets during seven games in the 25-over format.
Next year, he competed in the BCCI’s Associate & Affiliate Tournament on behalf of Bihar U-19.
Former Gopalganj district cricket team captain and early Kumar scout Amit Singh recall how Mukesh would cycle 30 kilometers each way every day, only to play cricket at the academy.
Statements
A mere twenty-five minutes on foot separated his home from the city center, “his village” (Kakarkund) (Gopalganj). I used to be shocked at how he does that every day.
Amit, writing for the Indian Express from Gopalganj, says, “I told him so many times to take bus, and every time he would respond, “Bhaiya leg muscles strong kar rahe, sena mey bharti hona hai” (I am working on my leg muscles, and that will help me get into the army).
The sport of cricket was a strong interest, but joining the Indian military was his ultimate goal. “Honestly, back then, there was no possibility in cricket for Bihar,” recalls Singh, whose relations were all in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Kumar moved to Kolkata in 2012 to aid his father’s faltering cab business after realizing that Bihar was not affiliated by BCCI and that his cricketing career was going nowhere. In defiance of his late father’s (Kashinath Singh) wishes, he began to play in the second league for Rs 400-500 every match.
His 2014 court appearance forever altered his life. Ranade Bose, a former Bengal pacer and bowling coach, discovered him at a “Vision 2020” event organized by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). VVS Laxman, Waqar Younis, and Muttiah Muralitharan oversaw the trial proceedings.
As a result of his steady play over the years, he was called up to represent India A against New Zealand A, where he took five wickets; a month later, he received his first summons to represent India in a One-Day International for the series against South Africa.
Two trials that changed life
My entire existence revolves around these two cricket trials. The first was at Gopalganj, when I became the top bowler in the district, and the second was in Kolkata, where I experienced a “life-altering event,” as Mukesh Kumar tells Indian Express from Rajkot, where he is competing for Rest of India in the Irani Cup.
“There has been a hardship in my life, but it is common. Har kisi ke saath hota hai (Everyone passes through that time) (Everyone goes through that phase). This is the greatest level of cricket I’ve ever played, and I finally realized my lifelong desire. “If I hadn’t gone through those tough experiences in life, I wouldn’t be here now,” adds Kumar.
Mukesh considers himself incredibly fortunate. Whether it was his coach Amit Singh, his father who made him relocate to Bengal, Ranadeb Bose who was impressed by his bowling in the nets, Manoj Tiwari who provided him with his own equipment, or Arun Lal who told him, “You have the potential to play for India.”
“I was incredibly lucky. At every step, I got help. In order to pursue cricket as a career, my father gave me a deadline of one year. And after that, I was lucky enough to learn from Rano Sir (Ranadeb), Manoj bhaiya (Tiwary), Arun Lal sir. I would not be where I am now without them,” Mukesh says.
Kumar remembers not having a cricket kit when he was chosen to represent Bengal in the Buchi Babu competition.
As Kumar recounts, “Manoj bhaiya mereko bat, pad aur gloves diya tha” (Manoj Tiwary handed me a bat, leg protection, and gloves).
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Death of the father
Kumar received a call from his older brother Dhanset before the 2019-20 season while he was in Bengal camp to tell him that their father had passed away.
According to 2019 medical records, my father suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. In all honesty, he never liked when I played cricket. His desire for me to join the military was so strong that I attempted the CRPF entrance exam twice. Today I only wish my father was alive. He would have been thrilled,” says Kumar.
Arun Lal, the ex-coach of the Bengal team, has an interesting tale to tell about Kumar. Throughout the day, he could bowl long stretches in that probing outside off-stump line, which was the thing that most interested him.
Remarks
“If you have seen Mohammed Abbas of Pakistan, he is just like him. His top speed isn’t 140 kilometers per hour, but he won’t budge an inch. One or two reliable slip fielders are essential if Mukesh is bowling.
Kumar was admitted to the Indian team’s official WhatsApp group, where he learned of his selection for India only after the fact. However, he is not looking too far ahead as he has a game to win against Saurashtra in the Irani Cup.
Kumar, who will turn 29 in a week, says, “Phle ye match jeet le fir sochenge” (The most important thing right now is to win this match; everything else can wait).
This fiery pacer is likely one of the few cricketers who has been called up to the Indian national team but does not have an IPL contract. In contrast, he contributed greatly as a net bowler for Delhi Capitals in the previous campaign.
I’ve been giving IPL trials for years, so maybe this is the year I finally get my foot in the door: “Bhaiya udhar bhi trials chal raha mera kaafi saalon se, darwaja tootega jaroor.”
Read more: ROI is in command of the Irani Cup thanks to the all-around performance of Saurabh Kumar.