IND vs AUS 2023: Mukesh Kumar could become junior Mohammad Shami: Ravichandran Ashwin hails young Indian pacer

India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels Mukesh Kumar could become junior Mohammad Shami. Kumar impressed in the first T20I against Australia at Vizag on Thursday, which India won by two wickets.

The right-arm pacer from Bihar conceded 29 runs in his quota of four overs and he was able to nail his yorkers in the death overs. Kumar was the most economical Indian bowler in the first T20I as he conceded his runs at 7.20 despite Australia posting 208 runs.

Kumar has picked three wickets in six T20I matches at an average of 47.33 and he has certainly shown that he can improve his numbers.

“I initially thought Mohammad Siraj would become the junior Shami, but I now feel it could be Mukesh Kumar. Shami is called ‘Lala’ and as a tribute to the actor Mohanlal who is called Lalettan, I call Shami Lalettan,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin believes Kumar has a lot of similarities with Mohammad Shami and he also has an upright seam position like the veteran Indian pacer.

“Mukesh has a similar build, similar height, and outstanding wrist position – he has that great whip of the wrist and terrific back-spin on the ball. He has a very nice straight and nice alignment. He had bowled really well in the series in the West Indies and was outstanding at a practice game in Barbados,” Ashwin added.

Ashwin revealed how Mukesh Kumar impressed Pakistan legend Waqar Younis during a talent hunt program.

“When Ganguly took over the Cricket Association of Bengal, he had conducted a talent hunt, he had contracted Waqar Younis, VVS Laxman and Muttiah Muralitharan for that talent hunt program. Imagine, you are going to bowl in front of Waqar Younis, and you were at the toilet. They had called out his name but he wasn’t there! He returned, waited for 30 minutes and told them that his name wasn’t called out. It was then that Waqar Younis, who was about to leave, told him to bowl a couple of balls. Those two deliveries changed his life and he is now bowling for India,” Ashwin further said.

The second T20I between India and Australia will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.