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Mukesh Kumar did not make it to India’s Test squad for Bangladesh series. His Bengal teammate Akash Deep who performed well in the Test against England were preferred over him despite Mukesh taking five wickets in the first round of Duleep Trophy 2024. After the snub, Mukesh took five wickets each in the remaining two Duleep Trophy games. Now, in the Irani Cup, Mukesh wreaked havoc with the new ball not too far away from the second Test venue. Against Ranji Trophy 2023-24 champions, Rest of India's Mukesh took three wickets at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on October 1.
Mukesh’s strikes with new ball
In the second over of the innings, Mukesh struck twice to dismiss Prithvi Shaw and wicketkeeper-batter Hardik Tamore. After getting hit for a boundary in the first over, he lured Shaw into pushing the ball towards cover. Playing away from his body, he edged it to second slip fielder Devdutt Padikkal who took a brilliant catch diving to his right. The opener departed after scoring four runs from seven deliveries.
Two balls later, Mukesh bowled a fuller delivery. Tamore went for a drive and edged one to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel who took a regulation catch. Tamore departed for a two-ball duck. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Ayush Mhatre tried to do some damage control. Mukesh in the sixth over of his spell bowled a short bal. Mhatre went for the pull shot but managed a top-edge. Wicketkeeper Jurel called for it and ran towards short fine to take the catch. Mhatre departed after scoring 19 runs from 35 balls including three fours.
Shaw’s struggle continues
Shaw was not picked in Duleep Trophy squads. He was playing for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship Division Two 2024-25. After positive signs in One-Day format, in the red-ball format, he struggled to score. From five innings, he scored 71 runs from five innings. His highest in three games was 34 against Gloucestershire.
The 24-year-old batter hasn't played a Test match since 2020. From five Tests, he has scored 339 runs averaging 42.37 including one century and two fifties.
