With less than a week remaining for the first test to begin, let’s plunge on to our rising star Mukesh Kumar.
Selected for the tour of West Indies, the youngster looks promising. Having played for Delhi Capitals and played exceptionally well, the future looks bright for the lad and for the team.
During IPL 2023, he received priceless advice from Dhoni who states: “I tell this to every bowler that till the time you won’t try, you won’t learn. He said you need to do exactly what you want to do. If you won’t, you will not learn. He said to forget the outcome, and just go and try. He explained this thing really well to me.”. Having learnt this from the legend of the game and one of the best captains ever to grace the cricket pitch, we look forward to some innovative bowling from him in the upcoming matches. He has learnt to express himself through his aggressive cum superfast bowling and hoping to amaze us and shock the Windies by having a big wickets haul.
The standout moment for him during this season of IPL came when he successfully defended 12 runs in the final over against Sunrises Hyderabad.
He was selected as an impact player, and it proved to be the right decision. He bowled two excellent yorkers in that over which proved to be decisive. Furthermore, he can be India’s next death-over specialist. A death-over specialist in cricket refers to a bowler who specializes in bowling during the final overs of an innings, particularly in limited-overs formats such as One Day Internationals (ODIs) or Twenty20 (T20) matches. These bowlers are typically known for their ability to execute yorkers, slower balls, and other variations effectively under pressure, with the objective of restricting the opposition’s scoring and taking wickets.
He has the perfect bowler’s mentality, which is clearly seen in his bowling. A bowler’s mentality in cricket plays a crucial role in their performance and success. Here are some key aspects of a bowler’s mentality:
Confidence: Confidence is vital for a bowler. Believing in their abilities and having self-assurance allows bowlers to execute their skills effectively and make accurate decisions under pressure. He told in his interview after the match that he will be the match winner for Delhi Capitals in the low-scoring, high-intensity match.
Focus: Maintaining focus throughout an inning is essential. Bowlers need to concentrate on their line and length, read the batsman’s movements, and adjust their tactics accordingly. Staying focused helps bowlers make the right choices and deliver their best performances. He was focusing on giving minimum runs and not taking wickets. He just had to defend 12 runs, and he did exactly that.
Resilience: Bowlers often face challenges, such as being hit for boundaries or facing a strong batting partnership. It’s important for bowlers to remain resilient, bounce back from setbacks, and continue to execute their plans with determination. He was already proved costly in his first 2 overs but still, captain Warner trusted him and gave him the final over (it was between him and Ishant Sharma). He was strategic and resilient, which made a difference.
Adaptability: Bowlers must be adaptable to different game situations, pitch conditions, and opposition batting styles. They need to make quick adjustments to their line, length, and pace based on the situation and the batsman they are bowling to. He was facing 2 classy batsmen in Washington Sundar and Marco Jansen, but still, he adapted to the conditions and bowled exactly as per their weaknesses. Ultimately, that paid off.
Patience: Bowling in cricket requires patience. It’s common for bowlers to set up batsmen with consistent bowling and patiently wait for opportunities to take wickets. They need to avoid getting frustrated and maintain discipline in their approach. He had to bowl the correct ball at correct time, so he mastered the art of timing and bowled according to the plans with patience.
Strategic Thinking: Effective bowlers think strategically. They analyze the game situation, the batsman’s weaknesses, and the field placements to formulate plans and execute them accordingly. They assess risks, use variations intelligently, and make tactical decisions to outsmart the batsmen. He said in the post-match interview that Warner asked him after every ball whether he needed to change the field positions and that’s how he was bowling… according to the field placement.
Emotional Control: Bowlers need to have emotional control and avoid getting carried away by success or getting disheartened by failure. Maintaining composure allows them to make clear decisions and stay focused on their task. He did not get carried away even though after the game in hands after the 5th bowl, he diligently bowled the final bowl with the same mindset, and it was a dot ball, so this is what is called emotional control.
Team Player: Bowlers understand the importance of teamwork. They support their fellow bowlers, communicate effectively with the captain and fielders, and work together to create pressure on the opposition batsmen. He had good teamwork with his teammates, and they hunt in a pack to get a grip of the game, their victory and combined celebration say it all.
These mental aspects, combined with skill and technique, contribute to a bowler’s overall effectiveness and success in cricket. Developing a strong and resilient mentality is crucial for bowlers to thrive in different situations and perform consistently.
Hopefully, he performs and bowls with the same intensity and resilience given a chance in playing 11 against the Windies and make a mark on the tour with a badge of the upcoming talent in the national team.
