'That Will Be My First Achievement': Mukesh Kumar Sets Goal Ahead Of T20Is Against Australia

Reflecting on his IPL journey, Mukesh attributed significant learning to his time spent with senior pacer Ishant Sharma, emphasising the clarity he gained in his role within the team.

Pacer Mukesh Kumar is eager to capitalise on his opportunities in international cricket after making a promising start at the highest level. Known for his resilience in red-ball cricket, Mukesh has begun to make a steady impact in white-ball formats. Debuting across all formats during the West Indies tour, he aims to secure a regular place in the senior national team.

His focus now shifts to the upcoming 5-match T20I series against Australia, starting on November 23. With India's journey towards the T20 World Cup in June next year, Mukesh anticipates tough competition for a spot in the side. However, relying on the processes that brought him success, he aims to establish himself as a familiar face in the dressing room.

"I want to regularly play for my country, that will be my first achievement. I want to continue focusing on the processes. I am seeing the results of sticking to them, so, I want to keep focusing and moving forward," Mukesh shared with Jio Cinema ahead of the T20I series.

Reflecting on his IPL journey, Mukesh attributed significant learning to his time spent with senior pacer Ishant Sharma, emphasising the clarity he gained in his role within the team.

"I think IPL produces the toughest matches. All teams are filled with international players and that too, they are amongst the best. To play on this stage is really very tough and a very good experience for me. As far as the role of Ishant bhaiya (Sharma) is concerned, he supported me a lot. He explained my role in the team very clearly, so I just wanted to be honest with what I was expected to do," he remarked.

Throughout his IPL season with DC, Mukesh displayed composure in high-pressure scenarios. Notably, his standout moment came on April 24, when he defended 13 runs in the final over against SunRisers Hyderabad, steering DC to a thrilling seven-run victory. Featuring in eight games, he secured six wickets, demonstrating his potential as a dependable pacer. His substantial INR 5.5 crore deal with DC further underscores his value and the expectations surrounding him.

In the 5-match T20I series against Australia, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, Mukesh finds himself alongside Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, and Arshdeep Singh as the core pacers.