From being a non-entity in Bengal cricket till six years ago to emerging a hero this season, it has been a rigourous yet rewarding journey for the low-profile pacer Mukesh Kumar, son of a migrant taxi driver from Bihar.
Pakistani great Waqar Younis did not find any worth in him when he appeared for trials, conducted by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) under their ambitious 'Vision 2020' project in 2014.
Cut to 2020, Mukesh was carried on the shoulders by fellow pacer Akash Deep on Monday after he helped Bengal reach Ranji Trophy final after 13 long years.
It sort of summed up duo's story this season. They claimed 30 wickets each this season in Begal's success.
Mukesh was at his furious best in the semifinal against Karnataka, taking a career-best 6 for 61, to lead his side to a crushing 174-run win.
While he was rejected by Waqar, Bengal bowling coach Ranadeb Bose strongly backed him.
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Mukesh used to play tennis ball cricket at that time.
"I've seen him grow from nowhere. Mukesh Kumar is a story on its own. Waqar had rejected him from the Vision 2020 squad. I requested Waqar to pick him because I liked him. He even did not have a pair of shoes, and I had to arrange his spikes," Bose told PTI.
Mukesh did not play any cricket at competitive level and had malnutrition problem but convinced by Bose's assessment CAB backed him fully.
"I called Sourav to say that this boy did not have money to do MRI. He was not a contracted player of CAB but the association went out of the way and took care of him. I told him 'he's got a future'. Ganguly agreed, he had a malnutrition problem so CAB spent money. We kept him in CAB accomodation, and he trained."
"My job was at stake, then at the end of day, the first wicket he got was that of Sehwag in Lahli. It saved his career and my job. Since then he's been briillant."
"He should immediately play India A. He's better than anybody who's playing India A. His fitness is unbelievable."
"I wanted to join Army or do a job but I chose cricket. Initially my father thought I would run away after getting to the rigours of cricket. He always would say 'you are not good enough in cricket'. But I knew he wanted to bring out the best in me."