Mukesh Kumar's Remarkable Journey: From Domestic Cricket to International Success

Since making his international debut in the Port of Spain Test against the West Indies in July, Mukesh Kumar has played for Team India in 21 additional matches over the last six months (six ODIs, 14 T20Is, and a Test).

It's never easy for a cricket player from a very lowly background to make an impact at the top level based just on their domestic cricket performances.

"Not much has changed. I continue to concentrate on what I have always done well since I started playing cricket. Before departing for Hyderabad late on Saturday night, Mukesh told The Telegraph, "The goal remains the same — to look for the right execution on the field and plan for tomorrow."

Yes, I found that it helped a lot to focus on the Ranji Trophy and the India 'A' matches. I've only played in one IPL season so far (with the Delhi Caps). Therefore, the Bengal games and the "A" games were crucial.

There's a good likelihood the 30-year-old will be selected for the June T20 World Cup. But for now, he's just thinking on the England Test series, which kicks off in Hyderabad on Thursday.

The England Tests are the only focus at the moment. "I'll analyze the conditions and do the job accordingly if I get selected in the XI," Mukesh said.

Mukesh has had the trying experience of changing formats quickly during the last six months. It truly does require a tremendous amount of labor, particularly in a short amount of time. You must mentally train yourself.

One thing I like to do when I have free time is power yoga. It's very helpful since it keeps me cool and collected.

cherished advice

For Mukesh, being in constant contact with Jasprit Bumrah is proving to be "invaluable." "Bumrahbhai is always giving me advice, especially on the yorker. "Tu bahut acchha yorker daalta hai," he remarks. You bowl the yorker well, Jo kar raha hai, bas wahi karta jaa. Just keep doing what you have been). We communicate often, and in addition to his ideas, which are clearly quite helpful, he makes additional ones.

I am also working on the suggestions given by Paras MhambreySir (the bowling coach) about the slower one. Thus, sure, my goal is to improve my yorker and slower bowling technique, particularly in Twenty20 cricket.

Pace friendship

Mukesh recognized that the bond between him and Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and the other quicks during India's series-tying victory against South Africa in the Cape Town Test stood out. That reminds me a lot of what Ishan Porel, Akash (Deep), and I used to do in Bengal.

We also talk about our individual duties at this point: who will assault at full tilt and who will concentrate on maintaining tight conditions throughout maiden overs. Bumrahbhai in Cape Town advised me to continue bowling those dot balls because it would increase the pressure on the Proteas (in the second innings).

"I had to bowl those because of the circumstances, which ultimately helped the team."

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