New Delhi: At the toss of Delhi Capitals (DC)’s opening match of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) against Lucknow Supergiants (LSG), many raised eyebrows. Mukesh KumarJoining the playing XI. The reason was simple. Fans, pundits and journalists in the press box were expecting Aqib Nabi, who had a sensational domestic season and was bought by DC for Rs 8.40 crore, to make his IPL debut.But many people forgot it. Mukesh Has been a part of the DC setup for a long time and has proved his mettle since joining the franchise in IPL 2023 with a price tag of Rs 5.50 crore. He has also been a domestic bloker and earned an India call-up, subsequently playing all three formats for India during the 2023 Caribbean tour.
Thirty-six balls in two matches is not a big sample size, but he has bowled twenty dot balls in six overs. Against Lucknow, he troubled Rishabh Pant with his probing length, bowling 11 dot balls in his 18 balls.“It’s not just one or two matches. It’s a 14-match tournament. If the team doesn’t support you, it becomes difficult,” he told reporters after Delhi’s six-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Lucknow, April 01 (ANI): Mukesh Kumar of Delhi Capitals celebrates the wicket of Lucknow Supergiants captain Rishabh Pant during the Indian Premier League 2026 match at the Bharat Ratnashree Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekna Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
In the afternoon game against Mumbai, he started with a full length, looking for movement but was hit for a boundary. Ryan Rickelton. Two balls later, he went for the wicket again and headed for another boundary. The wily pacer then pulled back his length, leaving Rickleton struggling against the Test match line, and was awarded his wicket. He then fooled Tilak Verma with a change of pace and completed a quick catch to bowl. His effort was praised by Jasprit Bumrah, who referred to him as “Mukesh McGrath” in a light-hearted post-match chat.The past twelve months have been tough for the 32-year-old. He dealt with back-to-back injuries, first a hamstring problem and then a calf strain, which forced him to miss a significant portion of the domestic season.
He always talks about my abilities. He keeps telling me that what you have in your hand is black, no one else has it
Mukesh Kumar in conversation with Manaf Patel
Before the season, Mukesh had a long chat with DC’s bowling coach Manaf Patel, who reminded him of the skill he possesses.“He always talks about my talent. He keeps telling me that. No one else has what is black in your hand. (Your art is very unique). They keep saying I am the best bowler,” Mukesh said during the pre-season chat.
New Delhi, April 04 (ANI): Akshar Patel, KL Rahul, Mukesh Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav of Delhi Capitals celebrate the wicket of Mumbai Indians batsman Sherfin Rutherford during the Indian Premier League 2026 match against Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo/Jitendra Gupta)
The workhorse from Bihar’s Gopalganj district knows how to prove his doubters wrong. He played cricket in Bihar against the wishes of his father late Kashinath Singh. He then moved to Kolkata in 2012 to support his father’s struggling taxi business. But frustrated with the transport work, he started playing second division matches at the grounds for Rs 400-500.Mukesh was a favorite of former Bengal head coach Arun Lal because of his ability to bowl long spells. Lal calls him a captain’s dream and a batsman’s nightmare as he doesn’t give them an inch.The secret to Kumar’s ability to spell long lies in his hunger to learn and improve. These traits caught the attention of VVS Laxman, Waqar Younis and Muttiah Muralitharan during the Vision 2020 program organized by the Cricket Association of Bengal in 2014.
Last year, I observed how Hazlewood bowled. He consistently hit the length of a Test match. Our coach advised me to focus on my strengths and target that area. A difficult length to score, especially if the ball is moving. If someone hits you on a good day, that’s fine, but it’s usually a safe and effective option.
Mukesh Kumar
After the Mumbai match, he admitted that he had closely watched Royal Challengers Bangalore’s trump card Josh Hazlewood last season, especially his ability to hit hard lengths without worrying about runs being scored.“Last year, I observed how Hazlewood bowled. He consistently hit Test match lengths. Our coach advised me to focus on my strength and target that area. It’s a difficult length to score, especially if the ball is moving. If someone hits you on a good day, that’s fine, but generally it’s a safe and effective option.”Mukesh last played for India in 2024, but is eyeing a comeback.
Lucknow, April 01 (ANI): Delhi Capitals’ Mukesh Kumar and David Miller celebrate the wicket of Lucknow Supergiants captain Rishabh Pant during the Indian Premier League 2026 match at the Bharat Ratnashree Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekna Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
“I spoke to the selectors,” Mukesh said of his performance as the highest wicket-taker during India A’s tour of Australia in late 2024, just before the Border-Gavaskar Test series.By this time the team had been selected but it was good to have the group around. I spoke to the selectors and they said that if I perform in domestic cricket and IPL, I will make a comeback.The fast bowler has had an impressive journey, which even MS Dhoni acknowledged when he met the former India captain during his first IPL season.
Lucknow, April 01 (ANI): Mukesh Kumar of Delhi Capitals celebrates the wicket of Lucknow Supergiants captain Rishabh Pant during the Indian Premier League 2026 match at the Bharat Ratnashree Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekna Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
Now, as Delhi Capitals look to pick up the pace, Mukesh Kumar is no longer just filling a place in the playing XI. He is dictating terms with silent authority. In a format dominated by big hits and big fame, his story is a reminder that control still counts. One dot ball at a time, Mukesh is not only rebuilding his career, he is reshaping the games.
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Will Mukesh Kumar make a successful return to the Indian team?
