Mukesh Kumar
Role: Bowler (Right-arm medium-fast)
DOB: 12 October 1993
IPL Team (2026): Delhi Capitals
Base Price: N/A (Retained by DC)
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 20 | 390 | 663 | 24 | 3/34 | 27.63 | 10.20 | 16.25 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 10 | 210 | 348 | 17 | 3/34 | 20.47 | 9.94 | 12.35 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 10 | 180 | 315 | 7 | 2/30 | 45.00 | 10.50 | 25.71 | 0 | 0 |
The Story of Mukesh Kumar
From the dusty fields of Gopalganj, Bihar, to the bright lights of the IPL, Mukesh Kumar’s journey is a testament to perseverance and raw talent. Born on October 12, 1993, Mukesh’s cricketing dreams took root playing with a tennis ball, a common starting point for many Indian fast bowlers. His move to Kolkata proved pivotal, where he honed his skills and caught the eye of Bengal selectors. A consistent performer in domestic cricket across all formats, his ability to hit hard lengths and deliver crucial breakthroughs made him a force to reckon with, eventually earning him a call-up to the India A squad.
Mukesh’s IPL dream materialized in the 2023 auction when Delhi Capitals secured his services for a hefty INR 5.5 crore. It was a significant investment for a player yet to debut in the league, but one that quickly began to pay dividends. His debut season saw flashes of brilliance, particularly his ability to bowl difficult overs at the death. While his economy was a learning curve, his knack for picking up wickets, including a crucial 2/30 against Punjab Kings, showed his potential.
The 2024 season was Mukesh’s true breakthrough. He transformed into a reliable death-overs specialist, showcasing improved control, subtle variations, and a lethal yorker. His 3/34 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, dismantling their middle order, was a standout performance, earning him Man of the Match. He consistently delivered under pressure, making him an indispensable asset for the Capitals. His rise has been meteoric, culminating in international debuts across all three formats for India, a clear indicator of his quality and temperament.
Mukesh Kumar is a right-arm medium-fast bowler known for his disciplined line and length, often hitting the deck hard. He possesses a deceptive slower ball and a pinpoint yorker, making him particularly effective in the crucial death overs. His calm demeanor under pressure, coupled with his ability to adapt to different match situations, has quickly established him as one of the most exciting Indian pace bowling talents in the IPL.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Mukesh Kumar’s IPL journey has, so far, been exclusively with the Delhi Capitals. His entry into the league was a headline event at the IPL 2023 auction, where Delhi Capitals outbid several franchises to acquire him for a substantial INR 5.5 crore. This marked his debut season in the IPL, where he played 10 matches, showcasing his potential as a death bowler, albeit with a slightly high economy rate as he found his feet in the high-pressure environment.
His performance in 2024 saw a significant leap. Retained by the Capitals, Mukesh became a vital cog in their bowling attack, particularly excelling in the death overs. He played another 10 matches, vastly improving his wicket-taking ability and becoming a go-to bowler for his captain. His consistency and improved control in 2024 solidified his place, leading to his retention by Delhi Capitals for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, reflecting his increased value and importance to the franchise’s plans.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
For bettors, Mukesh Kumar presents an intriguing profile, especially given his evolution as a death-overs specialist. His primary strength lies in his ability to bowl accurate yorkers and subtle slower balls under immense pressure. This makes him a strong candidate for “Most Wickets” bets in matches where he’s expected to bowl two or more overs at the death. His improved control in 2024 suggests he’s less prone to leaking boundaries than in his debut season, making “Over/Under Runs Conceded” bets more nuanced.
He thrives on pitches that offer a hint of seam movement or on larger grounds where his variations can deceive batsmen looking for boundaries. Bettors should look for matchups against teams with a strong middle-order but perhaps less experienced finishers, as Mukesh’s variations can exploit such scenarios. His weakness can still be against established power-hitters on flat tracks, where even his best deliveries can be dispatched. However, his temperament is a huge asset; he rarely crumbles under pressure, making him a relatively consistent performer in high-stakes situations.
Consider betting on Mukesh for “Player of the Match” if Delhi Capitals are defending a par score, as his death bowling heroics can often swing games. Also, keep an eye on his form leading into tournaments – a strong domestic showing often translates to IPL success. His consistency metrics improved dramatically from 2023 to 2024, indicating a bowler who learns and adapts, making him a more reliable bet going forward.
Key Records & Milestones
- Secured an IPL contract with Delhi Capitals for INR 5.5 crore in the 2023 auction, marking a significant financial breakthrough.
- Made his IPL debut in 2023, showcasing his ability to bowl crucial death overs.
- Registered his best IPL bowling figures of 3/34 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2024.
- Significantly improved his IPL wicket tally from 7 wickets in 2023 to 17 wickets in 2024, demonstrating rapid development.
- One of the few Indian pacers to make international debuts across all three formats (Test, ODI, T20I) within a short span, highlighting his versatility and national recognition.
IPL Season Highlights
Mukesh Kumar’s IPL journey truly took off in the 2024 season, where he emerged as a frontline death bowler for Delhi Capitals. His standout performance came against Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he bagged 3 crucial wickets for just 34 runs, including key dismissals in the death overs that stifled RCB’s chase and earned him the Man of the Match award. Throughout the season, he consistently picked up wickets at critical junctures, finishing with an impressive 17 wickets from 10 matches, a significant improvement from his debut year, and boasting a much-improved economy rate.
His debut 2023 season was a learning curve, but not without its moments. He showed glimpses of his potential, particularly with his ability to bowl the tough overs. A notable performance was his 2/30 against Punjab Kings, where he showcased his variations and temperament under pressure. While the overall numbers weren’t spectacular, it laid the foundation for his future success.
Heading into the 2026 season, Mukesh Kumar is expected to be a pivotal figure for Delhi Capitals. Following a strong 2025 campaign where he continued to refine his death bowling and added more variations to his arsenal, he is now considered one of the premier Indian fast bowlers in the league. His ability to deliver under pressure and pick up wickets consistently makes him a key player to watch and a valuable asset for any betting strategy.