The experienced Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has commended pacer Mukesh Kumar, dubbing him ‘Junior Shami’. In a discussion on his official YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed that his initial impression of 29-year-old Mohammed Siraj was that he would be the understudy to Mohammed Shami. However, after observing Mukesh Kumar, Ashwin revised his view and now sees the 30-year-old as a potential successor in the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2023.
Ashwin highlighted the physical similarities between Mukesh and the 33-year-old Shami, including build, height, and wrist position.
Furthermore, Ashwin lauded Mukesh’s ability, noting his impressive wrist control and backspin on the ball.
“Initially, I thought Mohammad Siraj would follow in Shami’s footsteps, but now I feel Mukesh Kumar could assume that role. Shami is affectionately called ‘Lala,’ a tribute to the actor Mohanlal, who is referred to as Lalettan. Mukesh shares a similar physique, towering height, and remarkable wrist position – he possesses tremendous wrist control and generates superb backspin on the ball. His bowling action is very fluid and well-aligned,” Ashwin remarked.
The top-ranked Test bowler also recounted the moment when former cricketer Waqar Younis drastically altered the course of Mukesh’s career after observing just two deliveries from him.
“Imagine, you are about to bowl in front of Waqar Younis, and you were in the restroom. They had called your name, but you weren’t present! Upon returning and waiting for 30 minutes, you claimed that your name was not called. It was at that juncture that Waqar Younis, who was on the verge of leaving, asked him to bowl a couple of deliveries. Those two deliveries transformed his life, and now he is representing India,” Ashwin added.
Mukesh Kumar made his international debut for India on July 20, 2023, and since then, he has participated in 10 matches, clinching nine wickets.
The 30-year-old has been drafted into the five-match T20I series against Australia. Although he remained wicketless in the series opener, Mukesh conceded merely 29 runs.
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