“Virat Bhaiya Ran Up And Hugged Me”: Mukesh Kumar On Taking Maiden Test Wicket | Cricket News

Having watched Virat Kohli’s on-field exploits with awe all these years, it was a surreal feeling for Mukesh Kumar when the previous Indian captain rushed to hug him after the Bengal seamer acquired his maiden Test wicket. Making his Test debut a number of months earlier than his thirtieth birthday, the person from Bihar’s Gopalganj is a late bloomer and has needed to come up the ranks proving his mettle proper from Bengal U-23 to India A in final seven years. “When I got the wicket, Virat bhaiya ran up and hugged me. I was in a different world. The man I have watched all these years on TV and looked up to is hugging you. It felt great,” a beaming Mukesh advised his senior tempo bowling companion (youthful in age although) Mohammed Siraj in an interplay for BCCI.TV.

Mukesh had a powerful debut on a flat lifeless deck with figures of 18-6-48-2 to indicate for his efforts.

“When you (Siraj) and JD (Unadkat) bhai were bowling, Rohit bhai said ‘it’s not a pitch where you can get wickets instantly. You need to work hard’. I had to set up the batter with consistent bowling,” mentioned Mukesh, who was picked by former Bengal seamer Ranadeb Bose, throughout an open trial again in 2013-14 season beneath the bold ‘Vision2020’ challenge.

Although he was mentally prepared, having gone by the paces within the nets, the second he was advised on the crew assembly a day earlier than, it took a while to sink in.

“When I came to know that I will be playing, I was shocked and actually completely zoned out. Whether I play or not, I am always prepared, so I went to attend the team meeting, keeping in mind that I need to follow my process. But there was some gut feel that I might play.” His mom was emotional and all these related on this journey have been very joyful.

“So when it’s morning over here, its evening in India. So by evening, when I reached hotel, I spoke to my mom, that’s a special feeling that ‘Maa main desh ke liye khel raha hoon (Mom, I am playing for the country). All my relatives and all those who supported me from start are happy,” he advised Siraj.

(This story has been edited by Mahaz News workers …)