'The kala in his hand': How Mukesh Kumar became Delhi Capitals' go-to bowler

NEW DELHI: At the toss of the Delhi Capitals' (DC) opening match of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), many eyebrows were raised at Mukesh Kumar's inclusion in the playing XI. The reason was simple. Fans, pundits and journalists in the press box were expecting Aquib Nabi, who had a sensational domestic season and was bought by DC for Rs 8.40 crore, to make his IPL debut.

But many forgot that Mukesh has been part of the DC set-up longer and has proved his worth since joining the franchise in IPL 2023 for a price tag of Rs 5.50 crore. He has also been a domestic bulwark and earned an India call-up, subsequently playing all three formats for India during the 2023 tour of the Caribbean.




Thirty-six balls in two matches is not a big sample size, but in six overs, he has bowled 20 dot balls. Against Lucknow, he troubled Rishabh Pant with his probing lengths, bowling 11 dot balls in his 18 deliveries.

"This isn’t just one or two matches. It’s a 14-match tournament. If the team doesn’t back you, it becomes difficult," he told reporters after Delhi's six-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Against Mumbai in an afternoon game, he started with a fuller length, searching for movement but was struck for a boundary by Ryan Rickelton. Two balls later, he again went for the wicket-taking delivery and was dispatched for another boundary. The wily pacer then pulled his length back, leaving Rickelton struggling against a Test-match line, and was rewarded with his wicket. He then deceived Tilak Varma with a change of pace and completed a sharp caught and bowled. His effort drew praise from Jasprit Bumrah, who called him "Mukesh McGrath" in a light-hearted conversation after the game.

The last twelve months have been difficult for the 32-year-old. He dealt with back-to-back injuries, first a hamstring issue and then a calf strain, which forced him to miss a significant portion of the domestic season.

Before the season, Mukesh had a long conversation with DC bowling coach Munaf Patel, who reminded him of the art he possesses.

"He always talks about my skills. He keeps telling me that tere haath mey jo kala hai wo kisi aur ke pass nahi hai (The art you have is very unique). He keeps saying that I am the best bowler," Mukesh said during a pre-season interaction.

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 began playing second-division matches in the maidans for Rs 400 to 500.

Mukesh was a favourite of former Bengal head coach Arun Lal because of his ability to bowl long spells. Lal calls him a captain’s dream and a nightmare for batters because he does not give them an inch.

The secret to Kumar’s ability to bowl long spells 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 programme organised by the Cricket Association of Bengal in 2014.

After the Mumbai match, he admitted that he had closely observed Josh Hazlewood, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's trump card last season, particularly his ability to hit hard lengths without worrying about being hit for runs.

"Last year, I observed how Hazlewood bowled. He consistently hit Test-match lengths. Our coach advised me to focus on my strengths and target that area. It’s a difficult length to score off, 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," he said.

Mukesh last played for India in 2024, but he has his sights set on a comeback.

"I spoke to the selectors," Mukesh said about his performance as the highest wicket-taker during India A's tour of Australia near the end of 2024, just before the Border-Gavaskar Test series.

"The team had already been selected by then, but it was a good thing to be around the group. I spoke to the selectors and they said if I perform in domestic cricket and in the IPL, I will make a comeback."

The feisty pacer has had an inspirational journey, which even MS Dhoni acknowledged when he met the former India captain during his first IPL season.

Now, as Delhi Capitals look to build momentum, Mukesh Kumar is no longer just filling a spot in the XI. He is dictating terms with quiet authority. In a format dominated by big hits and bigger reputations, his story is a reminder that control still counts. One dot ball at a time, Mukesh is not just rebuilding his career, he is reshaping games.


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