Mukesh Kumar takes dig at Gautam Gambhir and team management with cryptic post

On Wednesday (June 18), Indian cricketer Mukesh Kumar shared a cryptic Instagram story. Since this post, the rumour is going on whether it is a dig at the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team selection, or anything else. 

Although he was with the Indian squad many times recently, the 31-year-old Indian right-arm medium pacer Mukesh Kumar played his last international match in July 2024, when India toured Zimbabwe. While India are ready to begin their journey in the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship with a five-match away Test series against the hosts England, starting on June 20, Mukesh Kumar isn't present in the team. 

India tour of England 2025: Harshit Rana added, but no Mukesh Kumar

However, before this Test series, Mukesh Kumar toured England for India A for the two-match unofficial Test series against the hosts England Lions. Kumar played one match and picked up three wickets.

Last Tuesday (June 17), pacer Harshit Rana was added to the Indian men's senior team for the five-match Test series in England. Rana was also in the India A squad for their recently concluded unofficial Test series against England Lions, and managed to pick up only one wicket in one match. 

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"Karma bides its time": Mukesh Kumar

On Wednesday, Mukesh Kumar suddenly shared a cryptic Instagram story, where he wrote, "Karma bides its time. You will always have to watch out. Karma is unforgiving and always gets payback." While there is not enough information about this story, the media rumours are linking it to his exclusion from the Indian squad. 

Mukesh Kumar has played 26 international matches

Mukesh Kumar made his international cricket debut in July 2023, when India toured in West Indies, and he made debuts in all formats in that same tour. Kumar has played three Tests, six ODIs, and 17 T20Is, where the right-arm medium pacer has taken seven, five, and 20 wickets, respectively. 

Kumar's last match for India was the 2024 Harare T20I against Zimbabwe. In that T20I series, Kumar was India's leading wicket-taker with eight wickets in three games (Washington Sundar had eight wickets in five matches).