EW DELHI: The 29-year-old pace bowler Mukesh Kumar became the 308th Test cricketer to represent India.
The prestigious debut cap was presented to him by premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of the 2nd Test match between India and West Indies.Following his Test debut, Mukesh couldn't contain his emotion and he shared this joyous occasion with the most important person in his life - his mother.
"My mother told me to stay happy all the time.
Keep moving forward.
She said her blessings are always with me.
For her, all that she wants me to do is keep improving and getting better.
This moment is very important for me.
I can't explain how happy I am.
I made the debut in the morning and in the evening, I am talking to my mother.
I am not able to understand what to say," an emotional Mukesh said in a video shared by BCCI.
WATCH:Mukesh is part of both the India Test and ODI squads against the West Indies.
India are leading the two-match Test series 1-0 after winning the opening Test by an innings and 141 runs.
Mukesh, who lost his father Kashi Nath Singh to a brain hemorrhage in 2019, was included as a stand-by player in the World Test Championship Final which India lost to Australia.
He was also part of the ODI series against South Africa in September last year.
The Bengal pacer was rewarded for his consistent performances in the domestic circuit and IPL 2023.
He bagged 22 wickets in the 2022-2023 Ranji season, playing a key role in their journey to the Ranji final.
He has 149 scalps in 39 first-class matches so far.
He continued his sublime touch in the Irani Cup as well.
He picked up 4 wickets in the Saurashtra first innings and then 1 wicket in the second innings.
Rest of India went on to beat Saurashtra by 8 wickets to clinch their 29th Irani Trophy.
For his figures of 4/23 and 1/49, Mukesh was adjudged Man of the Match.
He was also the highest wicket-taker in the three-match unofficial Test series against New Zealand A in September last year.
He claimed 9 wickets in 3 matches.
In IPL 2023, Mukesh, who represents Delhi Capitals, bagged 7 wickets in 10 matches.
His 7 scalps included the wickets of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Jos Buttler.