In the world of sports, the phrase ‘No dreams are too big’ encapsulates the essence of a true champion’s mindset. A sportsperson’s journey is often riddled with challenges, obstacles, and setbacks, but it is their unwavering belief in their abilities and their dreams that propels them forward. With unyielding determination and relentless hard work, they strive to achieve greatness and conquer new heights.
Such has been the journey of Mukesh Kumar in the Indian cricket circuit. A boy who was born in a small town in Bihar saw a dream of playing cricket for India and 29 years after so much hard work, perseverance, determination and resilience he has made it through.
On the 20th July 2023, he realised his dream. It was never going to be easy, especially for the lads coming up from the eastern part of India.
Mukesh’s journey has been a hell-inspiring one for all the young budding cricketers around the country.
For any cricketer, dreaming big is not just an aspiration; it is a way of life. They visualize success, imagining themselves standing on the podium, with medals around their necks and the pride of their nation in their hearts. These dreams become their guiding stars, directing their every move and shaping their training regimes. They do not allow limitations or doubts to deter them; instead, they channel their focus toward realizing their full potential.
Such has been the journey of Mukesh Kumar, gone through massive hardships in his early days, and now fortune is giving him the rewards now. His conversation with his mother after his debut call surely has taken everyone through an emotional ride. That 3-minute call between mother and son told everyone off what has gone between them in these nearly last three decades.
Mukesh Kumar’s journey as a cricketer took the first step when his father decided to move to Kolkata from Gopalganj, Bihar (his hometown). This move proved to be the stepping stone for Mukesh Kumar’s career.
But did we know that the bowler’s first career option was not in the field of cricket, sounds interesting, does it?
It’s true that until 2012, he kept giving government exams for jobs and only when he was not rejected on his fitness grounds, that he decided to switch to cricket full-time.
However, his real first step as a cricketer began at Bani Niketan Sports Club, where he was trained under Birendra Singh (his coach). The year 2014 proved to be very crucial for Mukesh Kumar’s career when Saurav Ganguly led a committee decided on the vision program where the local talents were identified by reputed stars so that Bengal can become a force again in the domestic circuit.
2015 was the year when Mukesh Kumar got his opportunity in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal. He made his debut against Haryana at Lahli, a ground where seamers enjoy bowling and his first few wickets included the name of Virender Sehwag.
Slowly and gradually with his moving balls, he made his case even stronger and cemented his place in the Bengal Ranji side.
The 2019-20 season turned out to be a career-defining year for him when he took Bengal into the finals of the Ranji trophy after his impressive bowling show against the mighty Karnataka side in the semis.
He hogged the limelight of the country when he was bought up by Delhi Capitals for a whopping amount of 5.5cr in the 2023 IPL Auctions.
A boy coming from Bihar, then moving to Kolkata and now to a career-changing contract from Delhi Capitals, the bowler has seen it all. He has seen the lives of farmers and now he’s witnessing his journey as a professional cricketer.
No one knew that his career-changing contract would be taking the backseat in a year because the gates are wide open and the Indian test cap is waiting to embrace him for all his hard work and dedication toward this sport.
History is replete with tales of legendary sportspersons who defied odds and shattered records, all because they dared to dream big.
From Michael Jordan’s iconic slam dunks to Serena Williams’ unparalleled dominance on the tennis court, each achievement was preceded by an audacious dream that drove them to push beyond limits. Mukesh Kumar can be one of them in the years to come for Indian Cricket.
In conclusion, the adage ‘No dreams are too big’ serves as an inspiration to every aspiring sportsperson. It urges them to set their sights high, to envision the impossible, and to relentlessly pursue their goals.
For within the heart of every true sportsperson lies the conviction that with passion, dedication, and the courage to dream big, they can achieve the extraordinary and etch their names in the annals of sporting history.
On that note, we would like to congratulate India’s new emerging talent on his new beginning and we would love to see more of him in the coming years.
-note : image taken from BCCI Twitter
Such a inspiration for emerging young talents of India…😎