Who is Mukesh Kumar? All you need to know about India's new pace bowler

Indian management announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming ODI home series against South Africa on Sunday (October 2). The biggest news that emerged from the squad selection turned out to be pacer Mukesh Kumar's and Rajat Patidar's maiden call-up for South Africa ODIs. Shikhar Dhawan will continue to lead the squad with Shreyas Iyer as his deputy for the series.

Both India and South Africa are engaged in an ongoing three-match T20I series and will play a three-match ODI series afterwards. With the T20 World Cup 2022 scheduled to start from October 16, Indian management has given opportunities to exciting prospects like Mukesh and Patidar. 

Mukesh, a 28-year-old right-arm pacer, is a surprising name for many, and is currently involved in the ongoing Irani Trophy 2022. While playing for Rest of India, he took four wickets in the first innings to bowl Saurashtra out for just 98 runs on Day 1 and was also sensational against New Zealand A last month. 

Meanwhile, let’s look at a few facts you need to know about Mukesh Kumar:

• Mukesh Kumar was born on October 12, 1993 in Kolkata and will celebrate his 29th birthday this month.
• He plays for Bengal in domestic cricket and made his debut in First Class cricket in October 2015 against Haryana at Rohtak.
• He made his T20 debut against Gujarat in January 2016 and List A debut against Uttar Pradesh in December 2015.
• The right-arm pacer has taken only 17 wickets in 18 List A matches at an average of 44.00 and economy rate of 5.17 so far.
• Mukesh has 19 wickets in 17 T20 matches at an economy rate of 7.25.
• His best outings have come in First Class cricket, with 109 wickets in just 30 matches (52 innings) at an impressive average of 22.50 and an economy rate of 2.75 so far.
• He took nine wickets in three unofficial four-day matches against New Zealand A last month.
• Mukesh was Bengal's joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy season with 20 wickets in just nine innings.