So, when the previous Indian captain hurriedly rushed to embrace him after Mukesh secured his first Test wicket, it felt like a surreal second for the Bengal seamer.
Unlike some who make their Test debuts at a younger age, Mukesh needed to wait till just a few months earlier than his thirtieth birthday to get his probability. Hailing from Bihar’s Gopalganj, he could be thought of a late bloomer within the cricketing world.
However, his journey to success was marked by perseverance and constant performances as he proved his mettle at numerous levels, progressing from the Bengal U-23 crew to ultimately making his mark in India A over the previous 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 accomplice (youthful in age although) Mohammed Siraj in an interplay for BCCI.TV.
Mukesh had a formidable debut on a flat lifeless deck with figures of 18-6-48-2 to point out 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,” stated Mukesh, who was picked by former Bengal seamer Ranadeb Bose, throughout an open trial again in 2013-14 season underneath the formidable ‘Vision2020’ undertaking.
Although he was mentally prepared, having gone via 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 had been very comfortable.
“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.
(With PTI Inputs)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com