Gautam Gambhir reportedly wants 32-year-old India pacer considered for New Zealand Tests after 8-wicket Irani Cup haul
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- India coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly wants selectors to consider Mukesh Kumar for the New Zealand Tests.
- Mukesh took eight wickets, Akash six, in Rest of India's Irani Cup triumph.
- Prasidh Krishna's hamstring injury looks minor, but CoE clearance will decide his place.
Mukesh Kumar’s Irani Cup masterclass put him on Gautam Gambhir's radar for New Zealand Tests
Gautam Gambhir reportedly wants Mukesh Kumar, the 32-year-old Indian pacer, to be considered for the New Zealand Tests, after an eight-wicket haul in the Irani Cup.
According to Cricbuzz, the seamer's showing for Rest of India has pushed him into talks for the two-match red-ball series. Alongside Bengal teammate Akash Deep, he now looks like a front-runner for one of the two fast-bowling slots.
The Gambhir-led team management already viewed Akash as vital to India's chances in New Zealand. It now turns out they'd like the selectors to weigh Mukesh's claims too. He has played three Tests, six ODIs and 17 T20Is since making his international debut in July 2023.
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Irani Cup 2026: Mukesh's eight wickets power Rest of India to a 167-run win in Srinagar
Both Bengal pacers played a big part in Rest of India's stunning comeback victory in Srinagar on Sunday, October 4.
Head coach Gambhir tracked their spells closely, and he's expected to pass his inputs on to the four-member selection committee led by Pragyan Ojha. Akash picked up six wickets in the match, while Mukesh finished with eight as Rest of India won by 167 runs.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Gurnoor Brar are likely to form the core of the pace unit. The two experienced Bengal bowlers should join them in a 16- or 17-member red-ball squad. Both Tests count towards the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Meanwhile, there's also a chance that Prasidh Krishna boards the flight to Auckland as his hamstring injury isn't considered serious enough to rule him out of the tour.
The Tests come late in a 45-day tour, so there's some optimism that the fast-improving pacer will recover in time for the red-ball leg, even if the white-ball games come too soon.
Needless to say, his selection hinges on a go-ahead from the Centre of Excellence (CoE). He was sent there after hurting his hamstring in the second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati on September 30.
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Why Mukesh Kumar deserves a seat on the flight to Auckland?
When the Pragyan Ojha-led committee meets to pick the squad for the New Zealand tour, it isn't only about the best XI on paper. It's about depth, because a 45-day tour will test every bowler's fitness & stamina.
Bumrah's workload will need careful handling, Siraj can't bowl every spell, and Prasidh's fitness is still an open question. That's exactly why Mukesh makes sense. He's experienced, he has three Tests behind him, and he has just shown he can take wickets when his side needs them most.
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Critics will say the Irani Cup is a single match, and they're right. One performance shouldn't decide a career. But the case for Mukesh doesn't rest on one game.
Gambhir and the management are reportedly backing him on the strength of his overall pace, discipline and experience, and a coach who watches closely is rarely swayed by a single spell. New Zealand's conditions typically reward seamers who hit a consistent length, and that's a role Mukesh can fill.
With Ajit Agarkar gone as chief selector and Ojha running a four-man panel, the selectors need clear thinking. Backing performers from the domestic circuit sends a healthy message to every bowler waiting in line.
Mukesh and Akash earned this moment together, and the selectors should reward it. Prasidh can join them if the CoE gives the green light. If not, India still have a capable attack.
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