Srinagar, Oct 4: When Jammu and Kashmir needed to negotiate a challenging target of 279, Mukesh Kumar produced a spell that effectively ended their hopes of winning the Irani Cup.
The Rest of India pacer found his rhythm at precisely the right time, combining sharp pace with late swing to rip through the J&K batting lineup. The hosts simply had no answers to his movement, as delivery after delivery either beat the bat or found the stumps.
Mukesh finished with outstanding figures of 6 for 33, accounting for more than half of J&K’s 10 wickets in their second innings as the hosts were bowled out for just 111 in 28.4 overs.
The defining moment came right at the start of the chase when J&K skipper Paras Dogra was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Mukesh produced a ripping delivery that swung through the defence of the experienced batter and crashed into the stumps.
It was a dismissal that set the tone for what followed.
Mukesh kept the ball moving in the air while maintaining enough pace to trouble the batters. J&K’s top and middle order struggled to settle, with the ball repeatedly finding the outside edge or beating the bat.
The bowler’s rhythm was evident throughout his spell. Rather than relying solely on pace, Mukesh continually varied the movement, making it difficult for the J&K batters to predict where the ball would go after pitching.
Even Abdul Samad, who had produced a composed 57 in J&K’s first innings, could manage only 20 in the second innings.
Mukesh had already made his presence felt earlier in the match, taking two wickets for 84 runs in J&K’s first innings. His match haul of 8 wickets underlined his influence on the contest.
While J&K had fought their way to a 41-run first-innings lead, Mukesh’s second-innings burst ensured Rest of India regained complete control.
Two spells, 8 wickets, Mukesh Kumar was the difference.
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