Son of a cabbie, who found it difficult to make both ends meet after shifting to Kolkata from Bihar, it is needless to say that Mukesh Kumar began on a rough pitch!
Nevertheless, he (Mukesh Kumar) nurtured his dreams even if he and his family had to live in their one-room accommodation at Taltala.
He always liked playing cricket and bowling was his forte. However, when his skills caught the attention of people who matter in Team Bengal, they realised that he was malnourished and not in a state to withstand the rigours of First-class cricket.
However, in a span of seven to eight years, Mukesh has overcome these adversities. A successful bowler for Bengal, he is part of India A team which means he is just a step away from a national team call-up. Of course, he has made headlines after he got an IPL deal of Rs 5.5 crore with the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction at Kochi on Friday.
Trotting up from extreme poverty to this stage, the script reads like a fairy tale. But it is also about the extreme grind and Mukesh’s undying spirit that has kept him going.
Currently recovering from a hamstring injury at the National Cricket Academy, Mukesh was watching the auction proceedings on TV.
“Initially, I couldn’t believe it. I am missing my father, Kashinath Singh, who passed away three years ago. He would have been the happiest person today. Despite all the odds and the hiccups during my initial days, my father stood rock solid behind me, without which I would not have come this far. I am very happy but sternly believe that money can change lifestyle, but not my thought process. I want to stay focussed and realise my dream of playing for India,” Mukesh said.
The good Samaritans
It would not have been possible without the help of people around him. Former Bengal bowler, Ranadeb Bose, who was the team’s bowling coach when Mukesh emerged, saw spark in him and convinced the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials, including Sourav Ganguly, to invest in him. Bose even made sure that Mukesh got a pair of proper bowling shoes. Manoj Tiwary gifted Mukesh his first cricket kit.
Bose then persuaded the CAB to arrange for an accommodation for Mukesh at the Eden Gardens dormitory. Joydeep Mukherjee, another former Bengal player, was also a source of support.
Thanks to his mentors, he was gradually nurtured and under the hawk eye vigil of the support staff, Mukesh started making fast progress. An under-nourished Mukesh had developed bone edema and this was enough to pull the plug on his dreams of becoming a quickie, but with proper care, attention, diet and training he recovered fast.
“Had I not struggled, probably, I would not have seen this day,” said Mukesh who was called up by the Delhi Capitals to bowl at the nets last season. “I think I had made an impression at the nets as a bowler. I hoped to crack an IPL deal this season, but I had no idea about the amount of money.
(From left) Bengal pacers Mukesh Kumar, Ishan Porel and Akash Deep celebrate a win during a match at Eden in March File photograph
My aim now is to remain fit, improve my physical abilities and play for Team India. Of course, playing in the IPL will be a huge opportunity, but I want to earn the India cap,” said the Bengal fast bowler whose WhatsApp DP is an India cap, which he earned for being a part of the India squad in a One-Day series against South Africa earlier in 2022. He, however, was not played.
At 29, Mukesh does not have much cricket left in his career. But those who have seen him closely may admit that he has certain traits which can help him make the most of what he has.
Dedicated youngster
Soft-spoken Mukesh is extremely hardworking and dedicated. He is also improving by the day as a bowler and is capable of moving the ball both ways and is accurate.
Not a product of the system
The fascinating part of Mukesh’s story is that he is not a product of the system. Fast bowler Shivam Mavi of Uttar Pradesh had an IPL deal for Rs 6 crore with the Gujarat Titans at the IPL auction on Friday.
Like Mukesh, he is yet to play for Team India, but has been in the IPL circuit since he was 19. Part of the India Under-19 team and in the IPL soon after, he has been groomed in a structured manner for a long time. Mukesh did not have that kind of support. He came from nowhere with nothing and yet, kept persevering. Mukesh’s run up till now is surely an inspiration saga!