Former Indian Player RP Singh feels Mukesh Kumar’s future role in white-ball cricket is not defined given how he was used in the recently concluded series between India and West Indies. Mukesh Kumar was mainly used as a death bowler in the five-match T20I series against the Windies. He gave a good start by taking three wickets in 12.5 overs at a reasonable economy rate of 8.80.
During a discussion on JioCinema, RP Singh was asked whether he sees a future for Mukesh Kumar in white-ball cricket based on his performance against the West Indies.
RP Singh Replied:
“The team management and captain will have to think about how they want to use him. In the current picture, Mukesh Kumar’s role didn’t get defined for sure. It didn’t get defined what he brings to the table as a bowler.”
The former Indian pacer feels that the Bengal fast bowler should have been given a chance to showcase his skills with the new ball:
“In my opinion, you need to give a fast bowler a few overs with the new ball and then at the death. Probably after one stage, the Indian team management and captain agreed that he is a death bowler and that is why he was seen bowling towards the end.”
Mukesh Kumar was used with the new ball in the last ODI series against the West Indies. He shook the hosts’ top order in the final ODI by dismissing Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, and Shai Hope in the first seven overs.
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“Mukesh Kumar Didn’t Do Anything Special, But He Didn’t Even Get That Chance” – RP Singh
RP Singh pointed out that Mukesh Kumar was neither given a full quota of overs nor given a chance to show his full potential:
“He wasn’t even given his full quota of overs. That also became a reason for concern. Mukesh Kumar didn’t show any great skills but he probably didn’t get that opportunity as well. He is bowling a good yorker at the death.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator said that the right-arm pacer tried his best to complete the tasks assigned to him:
“He did exceptionally well in whatever tasks were given to him. He tried his best to complete whatever job was given to him. The captain has also said that you will be given different-different situations. In the last T20I, he bowled only one over. I am sure there would have been clarity on that beforehand.”
Mukesh Kumar has taken 30 and 35 wickets in 27 and 38 List A and T20 matches respectively. He was impressive for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023, helping him make it into India’s limited-overs squad for the West Indies tour.
