Cricket
Mukesh Kumar’s journey from Bihar to Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals signed fast bowler Mukesh Kumar, 29, for Rs 5.5 crore ($660,000) a day after the IPL auction in Kochi. He’s been receiving congratulations and media calls nonstop. Mukesh, who got the second-highest bid for an uncapped athlete, can’t believe it.
His heart and thoughts are at Gopalganj, his home town in rural Bihar, while he’s in recovery in Bengaluru.
His “happy place” is the farm. Any place with fresh air. There’s peace.
“After 10 days of therapy, I’m bowling today,” he says. “It’s thrilling. “Hard-to-explain”
Mukesh’s first IPL auction was Sunday. Friend’s frantic calls saved him from missing the big event.
“I watched the auction and then the India-Bangladesh Test,” he says. “When I called my mom, I continued getting missed-call alerts. Something was up when my friend kept contacting me. Did you see?
“So I switched back to the auction, but I still couldn’t believe it was my name, because so many times before I was told I had a strong chance but my name never came up. “I couldn’t believe it until I saw my photo next to my name.”
Several times, he pauses. “Bittersweet,” he admits. “God gives and takes. I never thought I’d see this much money in my lifetime, yet my father and uncle, who I should be sharing this with, are dead.
Stroke killed Mukesh’s father two years ago. His bade papa, father’s older brother, who supported him when he went to Kolkata in 2012, died in November.
“I’ll never forget my father’s excitement when I presented him my Ranji allowance. Wish I’d given him more. But now, I can’t. Hence my tears. Money isn’t everything.
Mukesh studied for three years to pass the tests to join the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Bihar police. In 2012, he finally passed the written tests, but he was turned down because he wasn’t fit. About this time, he made a serious decision to switch to cricket.
In action against New Zealand A earlier this year in Bengaluru. In the first innings of the first match, Mukesh took 5 wickets for 86 runs.
Bihar wasn’t allowed to play in India’s most important domestic tournaments, so Mukesh didn’t have a chance to play in his home state. He worked as a paid tennis-ball cricket player for fun. He played in tournaments with prize money that was enough to cover his basic needs. But when he had a bike accident during one of these tournaments in Bihar, his father, who had been running a taxi service in Kolkata since 2003, decided it was time to step in and asked him to move to the city.
“He told me in no uncertain terms that from now on, everything I do, whether it’s cricket or something else, will only happen in Kolkata and nowhere else. He was keeping an eye on me “Mukesh says. “Even though I wasn’t very serious about it, I signed up for a graduation program that I could do from home. I just wanted to show my dad that I was doing my homework.
“My dad thought, “Okay, this guy will play cricket, find out how hard it is to get anywhere in Kolkata, and give up.” And when he finishes school, I can try to find him a job somewhere.’ I guess he was wrong. Because I became more and more interested in serious red-ball cricket.”
Mukesh first went to the prestigious Kalighat Club, but he was sent away. He was told by a club official that he would have to work as a bartender for at least two years before he would even be considered because “only the big players play here.” Mukesh then went to the Bani Niketan Sports Club, where he met Birendra Singh. Birendra Singh was his trainer and later became his mentor.
“In my first game for Bani Niketan, a second-division league game, I took six wickets,” he says. “The next year, I moved up to a team in the first division. But I couldn’t play as often because my dad’s health was getting worse. He really wanted me to get a job and become more stable. I said, “Give me another year,” and kept playing.
Around this time, in the middle of 2014, Sourav Ganguly, who was then the secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal, announced his Vision 2020 program to pick talented cricketers to help Bengal become a powerhouse in domestic cricket. Waqar Younis, Muthiah Muralidaran, and VVS Laxman were brought in for the program to help local coaches narrow down a group of players who could then be trained over time. Birendra suggested that Mukesh be let into the trials, where he had to compete with more than 300 other people.
Mukesh during his six-for against Karnataka in the 2019-20 Ranji semi-final
“At the end of the trials, there were only four or five bowlers left, but I got called when I went to the bathroom,” Mukesh says. “Since no one replied, my name was taken off the list. I had to literally beg Rono da [Ranadeb Bose, an ex-Bengal seamer who helped run the trial] to give me a chance.
“I knew I only needed four or five balls to change things. I found out that I had been chosen later that evening. So, it was a good thing that I stood all day in the sun.” It turned out that Bose had told Waqar about Mukesh’s case.
“I thought there was something about him when I saw him bowl,” says Bose. “Waqar wasn’t sure, but I asked him to do it. ‘Bhai, rakh lo’ [Let’s keep him]. “Are you sure?” he asked. And I said, ‘Mere ko achha lag raha hai.’ [I like him] He said, ‘Theek.’
“Even I might have missed him at the end of a long day. But I went behind the nets to get a cup of tea by chance. So I could watch him from behind the batter, and I thought he was pretty good.”
Getting through the trials was only the first step. The next step was to meet the fitness requirements. During this time, it was discovered that Mukesh had fluid buildup in his knees (called bone edema) and that he was anemic. It meant he had to spend more time in hospitals and rehab centers and had to miss three games for every one he played.
“CAB helped me a lot during this time. They got me MRIs, paid my medical bills, and even let me stay in their housing,” he says. “I don’t think I would have made it without their help. Between 2014 and 2015, I did nothing but rehab for eight months. It was really hard. At times, I thought it might be best to go back to the village. I wanted to try, though. If it didn’t work, it didn’t work. I had to at least give it a shot.”
In 2015, Mukesh made his Ranji Trophy debut against Haryana in Lahli. This was after he got back in shape and did well in club tournaments.
Before the game, there was growing unhappiness on the Bengal team because an injury-prone “outsider” was chosen over several state regulars. Bose, who was the bowling coach, stood up for Mukesh with the help of Laxman and the head coach, Sairaj Bahutule.
Mukesh got rid of the first batsman, Rahul Dewan, and then he got rid of Virender Sehwag. He ended up taking five wickets in the game. Bose says, “He saved my job.”
That season, Mukesh played in four games. In 2016–17, he only played two games before getting hurt. When he was healthy again, he had lost his form, so he went back to club cricket. Even though he was healthy, he only played one game the next season. Bengal already had Mohammed Shami and Ashok Dinda, so it was hard for him to make the team as a fast bowler. In the 2018-19 season, he played five games and took 22 wickets. The following season, he was a real part of a good pace attack. He got ten games because he had done well in club cricket. It helped that Dinda had left the team after getting into a fight with the team’s management and leaving a spot open. The national selectors were impressed by Mukesh’s control of the ball and his ability to move it around on different surfaces. He took 32 wickets, which was a lot.
In the semi-final, Mukesh got 6 for 61 in the second innings against a Karnataka team that included KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal, and Karun Nair, among others. This put Bengal in the position to play for the title.
“That season was a turning point, but Covid struck within two weeks, right when the selectors had told me I would play in the Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup. And we were back to where we started.”
During his forced downtime, he worked on his endurance and ran cross-country to get in better shape. “After seeing Ben Stokes and Steven Smith do a charity run, I even ran 20 km in two hours,” he says. “I might not have been able to do that even five years ago. Today, I’m in much better shape.”
Mukesh made it into the India A team for the home series against New Zealand A earlier this year. In the second unofficial Test earlier this month, he took 6 wickets for 40 runs while playing for India A. In between his two stints, he was picked for the home series against South Africa as an ODI player. Even though he didn’t play, the fact that he made a mark like that even though he hadn’t played in the IPL yet makes his journey even more special.
The biggest change Mukesh has made in the last three years is that he is no longer only known for his red-ball exploits. At the IPL, he wants to build on this. But he’s looking forward to going home to see his mother before he gets there.
He says, “I want to show her the whole country.” “We went to Shirdi not long ago. I gave her a tour of a temple. That makes her happy, and if I take her, I’ll be happy too.
“”What will you do with so much money?” people have asked. I don’t have any big dreams, as you can see. I love working in the fields to grow crops and do farming.
“I’m the kind of person who likes to eat with family while sitting on the floor. When I’m not on the field, that makes me very happy. It’s not a hard life.
“If I want to go back to farming in my village after cricket, I might be able to make my dream come true by investing the money. But all of that will have to wait. Now I just want to get in shape and play as much cricket as I can.”
Cricket
KL Rahul’s Fitness Update: Asia Cup Anticipation
Indian cricket player KL Rahul doing exercise
Get the latest KL Rahul Fitness Update as the Asia Cup draws near. With the tournament on the horizon, all eyes are on KL Rahul and his efforts to enhance his physical condition. This anticipation adds an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming Asia Cup, as fans eagerly await his progress and contributions on the field.
Unveiling the Remarkable Strides
“KL’s journey within our conditioning camp has yielded remarkable strides,” Dravid affirmed during an engaging conversation in Alur on a Tuesday. He further elaborated on Rahul’s intensive training regimen, highlighting the significant advancements achieved in alignment with the team’s envisioned trajectory. However, it’s important to underscore that Rahul’s participation will be limited to the earlier part of the tour, excluding the segment taking place in Kandy.
Amid this cricketing expedition, the responsibility of overseeing Rahul’s well-being in the upcoming days rests firmly on the shoulders of the National Cricket Academy (NCA). A comprehensive reassessment of his physical state is scheduled for September 4—a critical juncture that will shape the course of action moving forward. Encouragingly, Rahul’s journey so far is indicative of a promising future, marked by substantial progress and commendable breakthroughs.
Navigating Injury Setbacks and Selection Strategy
The meticulous composition of the Asia Cup team on August 21 took into careful consideration KL Rahul’s state of health. Ajit Agarkar, the discerning chairman of selectors, disclosed that Rahul had encountered a “minor niggle” after a complete recovery from a thigh injury sustained during the IPL 2023 season. While the medical team at the NCA expressed contentment with Rahul’s batting workload, concerns surfaced regarding his wicketkeeping prowess, particularly after he expressed fatigue following practice games.
Mastering the Art of Batting: Rahul’s Regimen
Intriguingly, Rahul’s batting prowess has showcased resilience during his practice sessions at the Alur nets. On the final day of India’s intensive six-day training camp, Rahul dedicated nearly 35 minutes to the crease, confronting an array of bowlers encompassing both pace and spin. While he refrained from partaking in bowling drills, his immersive practice was apparent.
Rahul’s training routine unveiled a multifaceted approach, with a special emphasis on handling spin bowling. Positioned as the No. 5 batsman, he skillfully employed footwork to counter leg spin, demonstrating meticulous shot selection. Moreover, his adaptability shone through as he engaged in full-blooded sweeps against the spin duo of R Sai Kishore and Manav Suthar, both known for their left-arm spin expertise.
Starting to feel like me again 🏃♂️🏟️ pic.twitter.com/8cECI7oRDZ
— K L Rahul (@klrahul) July 11, 2023
Strategizing for Excellence
As Rahul’s training regimen progressed, he navigated to the second net—a space dedicated to facing the new ball delivered by the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna. His unwavering attention was directed towards aligning his stance with the bounce, honing his ability to play straight, and judiciously utilizing pace to manipulate the trajectory of the ball. A post-session interaction with Coach Dravid and Virat Kohli underscored Rahul’s commitment to refining his skills.
Balancing Act: Skill Development and Preservation
Despite his fervent dedication, Rahul’s training routine has been carefully curated to prevent undue physical strain. The team management, vigilant about his well-being, has ensured that his wicketkeeping drills strike the right balance between intensity and preservation. His sessions, particularly those focused on lateral movement and spin, are calibrated to foster growth without compromising his physical resilience.
Rahul’s proactive participation extended to meaningful interactions with fellow cricketer Rishabh Pant. The duo shared insights and engaged in rehab and fitness drills alongside the team, underscoring the collaborative spirit within the Indian cricket fraternity.
A Glimpse of Squad Dynamics
As the cricketing spectacle approaches, India’s Asia Cup contingent boasts the presence of wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. Additionally, Sanju Samson has been designated as the team’s travelling substitute, poised to step in when needed.
In Conclusion: The Path Ahead
In conclusion, KL Rahul fitness update and contribute significantly to the upcoming stages of the Asia Cup resonates as a central narrative. His ongoing progress, meticulously overseen by the NCA physiotherapy team, holds the promise of an impactful return to the field. The cricketing community eagerly anticipates his presence in the Super 4s phase, envisioning his role as a cornerstone in India’s pursuit of glory.
Ashwin doesn’t think India has a problem at No.4 or No.5 now that Dhoni and Yuvraj have left the team. He said that there is no question about India’s opening order.
India’s middle-order in ODIs is always a topic of discussion. When they lost in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup, a big reason was that they didn’t have a good No. 4. Since Yuvraj Singh’s last ODI on June 30, 2017, India has tried more than 10 players in that position, but captain Rohit Sharma says they still haven’t found the right fit. The No. 5 spot is just the same. Even though the way teams think about batting in ODIs is changing quickly, flexible batting line-ups are now the rule. However, not having a bankable middle order has hurt many times. In the last couple of years, however, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul seem to have helped India find the right mix.
Ravichandran Ashwin says that if both Iyer and Rahul are ready to play, there should be no question about India’s No. 4 and No. 5 in the Asia Cup and World Cup. He is correct. Rahul and Iyer have the best numbers of any middle-order openers India has tried since the 2019 World Cup.
Ashwin even said that Rahul, who has scored 742 runs at a remarkable average of 53 and a striking strike rate of 99.33 since taking on the new role of keeping wickets and batting at No.5, has filled the middle-order spot with “expertise” since MS Dhoni and Yuvraj retired.
“India had been looking for a candidate for Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni since they left the team. Rahul has done a good job in that role. He will always bat at No. 5 and keep wickets for us,” Ashwin wrote on his YouTube account.
Ashwin, who didn’t make it to the Asia Cup, praised Rahul for taking over as keeper-batsman after Rishabh Pant got hurt.
“Before Pant got hurt, Rahul was next in line. Now that Pant is out, Ishan Kishan is the second goal, and he has jumped at the chance. Rahul has a minor injury, but he should be fine for the first game. If he isn’t, we have a travelling team of 18 people in Sanju Samson,” Ashwin said.
“India’s No.4 should not be up for debate”: Ashwin
Shreyas Iyer is similar. Iyer got 805 runs before he hurt his back again and again. His average was 47.35, and his strike rate was 94.37. The Mumbai right-hander’s ability to hit big shots against all types of spinners makes him an ideal No.4 in subcontinent conditions. He also has a double game. Iyer has shown that he can handle the pressure if a couple of wickets fall early and then use it to his advantage. If he comes in to bat after a good start, he can beat the spinners right away.
“Shreyas Iyer is just as important to this team as KL Rahul. He is a steady No.4 for India and one of their best players against spin. Whenever he has played at 4, he has been a key part of their success. “If he is fully fit to play, there shouldn’t be any debate about the No. 4 spot,” Ashwin said on his YouTube account when talking about India’s Asia Cup team.
Ajit Agarkar, the head of selectors for the BCCI, put to rest any doubts about Iyer’s health. He also said that Rahul has a new injury and might not play in India’s Asia Cup opener against Pakistan. Rahul and Iyer’s good health will be the most important thing for India in the Asia Cup and World Cup, not where they play in the XI. Ashwin has said that if Rahul and Iyer are both healthy, they will play at No. 4 and No. 5 respectively.
India’s 2023 Asia Cup Squad
September marks the start of the next Asia Cup competition. The Asian Cricket Council oversees this prestigious competition. There had been talk of Pakistan hosting the competition, but now it appears that plans have changed. When the ACC announces the final host and schedule, that will be it. There will be 13 games played in this major competition, according to the data.
Many cricket followers can’t wait for this massive ACC-run competition. Cricket fans in India are eager to learn about their team’s Asia Cup 2023 roster. The team for the forthcoming competition has not been announced as of yet.
Nonetheless, the following players will likely be included in the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023: KL Rahul, Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Arshdeep Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, etc.
List of 2023 Asia Cup Participants
Six teams will compete in the 2023 Asia Cup, according to reports. There will be one-day matches in this competition. Sri Lanka won this prestigious competition in 2022 and is the current holder of the title.
The roster of participating players in the Asia Cup will be made public shortly.
1. Indian Squad: KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin, Suryakumar Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
💬 "Hopefully Sharma and Kohli can roll some arm over in the World Cup" 😃#TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma at his inimitable best! 👌#AsiaCup2023 | @imRo45 pic.twitter.com/v1KKvOLcnq
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2023
2. Pakistan Squad: Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, Khushdil Shah, Naseem Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, etc. are all members of the Pakistan Squad. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
3.Bangladesh Squad: Mohammad Saifuddin, Ebadot Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Parvez Hossain Emon, Anamul Haque, Mahedi Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Naim, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Afif Hossain, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
4.Afghanistan Squad : Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Fareed Ahmad, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim, Zadran, Afsar Zazai. Soon, we shall get more specifics about the actual team.
5.Sri Lanka Squad : Asitha Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan, Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Dasun Shanaka, Mahesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Jeffrey Vandersay, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
6.Nepal Squad : Aarif Sheikh and Aasif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami and Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane and Karna KC and Gulsan Jha and Rohit Paudel and Bhim Sharki and so on. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
Schedule for the 2023 Asia Cup
The ACC will soon announce the dates of the upcoming matches. In September, you may watch this fascinating and important competition. Hong Kong qualified for the Asia Cup in the previous tournament. Nepal, however, beat out the United Arab Emirates in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup to earn entry to this year’s tournament.
To see how well this young team does in such a major competition would be thrilling. This tournament features a lot of big names and big players. The 2019 Asia Cup will include 13 total games between the six participating teams (split into two groups). They’ll be competing for the title of Asia Cup 2023 champion.
2023 India Asia Cup Team Captain
There has been no announcement made regarding who will lead the Indian team at the 2023 Asia Cup. However, Rohit Sharma is expected to lead the Indian team at the upcoming Asia Cup in 2023. In the ongoing WCC Finals, India is being captained by Rohit Sharma.
He is undoubtedly a top-tier cricket player. As a result, many people expect Rohit Sharma to lead the Indian team at the 2023 Asia Cup. When India last competed in the ACC event, Rohit led the team as captain.
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