Mukesh Kumar is among the rare breed of bowlers who received his maiden India call-up before playing a single IPL game. The pacer from Bengal made headlines by making his debut for India in all three formats within a span of 14 days during the series against the West Indies in 2023. However, a calf injury pushed Mukesh down the pecking order among fast bowlers in the country.
The 32-year-old fast bowler from Gopalganj has now set his sights on getting back into rhythm in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. In this chat with RevSportz, Mukesh shares his targets for the season, his plans to pick Mitchell Starc’s brain during IPL 2026, the frustration of being left out of the national team, the role of Mohammed Shami, and more.
Q: How do you view your white-ball career now, especially with the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the IPL coming up?
Mukesh: I’m taking the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches very seriously. I did not have a good Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Since returning from the Centre of Excellence, I’ve been working hard to find my rhythm. No matter how fit you get there, until you complete long bowling sessions, that rhythm doesn’t return. That’s why I decided to play a couple of club matches. It really helps the body get used to the workload again.
Q: How difficult is it for a cricketer to come back after an injury?
Mukesh: It’s very difficult, especially mentally. You start thinking that everything was going well, you were in form, and then the injury happened. It sets you back a little. The key is how you rebuild your mindset during that phase – that depends entirely on you.
Q: When you see your teammate and friend Akash Deep performing well and representing India, does that motivate you?
Mukesh: Of course! Whenever Akash and I play together, we challenge each other to perform our best – whether for the state team or in any other match. When we bowl together, the competition is healthy and enjoyable. We both push each other to do better.
Q: Speaking of competition, Delhi Capitals recently bought Auqib Nabi for ₹8.40 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, and there’s also T Natarajan. What are your thoughts on the competition for a spot?
Mukesh: I wish Auqib all the best. I’ve seen him perform from the Delhi Trophy to the Ranji Trophy – he’s bowled really well. In franchise cricket, there’s always healthy competition. Every team needs backup bowlers, both Indian and overseas. The team management and coaching staff decide the best combinations, and as players, we just focus on giving our 100%.
Q: You shared the dressing room with Mitchell Starc last season. What did you learn from him?
Mukesh: A lot, especially about fitness and the mental side of the game. I noticed how disciplined he is with his training. He was preparing for the red-ball season and working hard even during off sessions. We talked about how to prepare before practice and how to maintain fitness before matches. I plan to ask him this year how to stay fit and mentally strong after an injury.
Q: During your rehab at the Centre of Excellence, what aspects of your bowling did you focus on, particularly with the white ball?
Mukesh: It’s always tough for a player to be injured. Watching matches on TV or checking scorecards is frustrating. To calm my mind, I started doing yoga, which really helped. At the NCA, the staff took excellent care of me – they didn’t let me return to matches until I was completely fit.
When I returned for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, my fitness was fine, but I hadn’t fully regained my bowling rhythm. My new-ball spells and death overs weren’t as effective. That’s when I decided to play club matches and bowl longer spells – around 10 overs a day – which helped my body adjust and regain rhythm. Now, I’m feeling good and ready to move forward.
Q: With Mohammad Shami, you, and Akash in the Bengal setup, would you say this is one of the best bowling attacks in domestic cricket?
Mukesh: Definitely. Bowling alongside Shami bhai is a big learning experience. He leads the attack, and Akash and I support him. Our bowling unit is strong, and we’ll get tested on flat pitches – like in Rajkot – which will be a great opportunity to learn and grow.
Q: You mentioned yoga helped you during rehab. What else did you do to stay mentally strong?
Mukesh: Initially, I was restless. Watching India A and domestic matches made me frustrated because I wanted to get back quickly. I spoke to someone about it, and they suggested yoga. It helped me relax and understand that ups and downs are part of life. Yoga taught me patience and calmness. The injury also gave me time to think deeply about my game – how I could improve and what new things I could add to my bowling.
Q: Have you added anything new to your bowling since then?
Mukesh: Yes, I’ve worked on maintaining a good rhythm in my run-up. I’ve been practising off-cutters and leg-cutters, and I’m developing the knuckle-ball. Last IPL season, I didn’t bowl the knuckle-ball much, but I’m focusing on adding it to my arsenal now.
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