When the hammer went down at Rs. 17.6 lakh during the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2025 auction, the Trichy Grand Cholas stakeholders had a wide smile across their faces. Some even erupted in applause. After an intense bidding war with Siechem Madurai Panthers, the team had managed to sign up U. Mukilesh, one of the most reliable middle-order batters in the league.
The first game of the season against Nellai Royal Kings wasn’t ideal for Mukilesh as he inside edged a slower ball back onto his stumps on five, looking to tee off in the final over.
However, he made amends with the ball. Despite garnering attention as a player who could lead the middle-order, Mukilesh reminded everyone that his ability with the ball was no less. Three wickets in the middle-overs swung the game right back into parity after NRK had threatened to run away with it following a productive PowerPlay. Trichy eventually conceded the match in the final over after a tough fight.
“To be honest, I’m not a part-timer. I did not have the opportunity to bowl at Lyca Kovai Kings because of Shahrukh Khan’s presence. This year, I’m the only off-spinner in the team and I will get a lot more opportunities to bowl,” Mukilesh reasoned.
Mukilesh played down the price tag he earned ahead of the season, calling it a ‘deceptive number’.
“In a way, I just think I got credit for my performances. I was consistent for the past three years,” the 26-year-old said. “I’ve grown 5-10 per cent this year as a player, as a batsman. I am sticking to my process and trusting it,” he added.
Steady rise to fame
Born in Kanchipuram, Mukilesh’s tryst with cricket began when he started training under his tuition teacher’s husband at the age of 10. The right-hander had great success in age-group cricket, playing for the State from the U-14s right through to the U-25s, even captaining the side sometimes.
Mukilesh’s moment of fame came in TNPL 2023 when he scored a half-century in the final to help Kovai ease to a 104-run victory. Throughout that year, Mukilesh played the role of anchor to perfection, scoring 202 runs in the season, building partnerships with those around him.
“I had a lot of cushion at LKK. The team was very clear about the plans and roles. Everyone in the team knew what he was supposed to do. There were a lot of people to guide me,” the batter said.
“Whenever the team needed someone to step up, Mukilesh was there,” skipper Shahrukh told Sportstar after the season finale in 2023. The sound-techniqued LKK batter too did not shy away from accepting his role as an accumulator rather than the more fashionable big-hitter. “I will get my chance to be more expressive one day,” he had said.
Grinding it out
During the TNPL off-season, Mukilesh hones his red-ball craft in the TNCA First Division, playing for Singam Puli. The all-rounder scored 225 runs and picked up eight wickets in the 2024 season, helping the team finish seventh on the points table.
“As soon as the TNPL is done, we start our First Division matches. So we are constantly in touch with cricket and we’ll be in our routines,” Mukilesh said.
“Even in the off-season, we have camps which ensure the preparation is always on point,” he added.
Explaining the varying role of the middle-order batter across formats, Mukilesh said: “When I play middle-order in red-ball cricket, I have the cushion of time and I can play out a few dots. In white-ball cricket, I need to look for singles to settle. If I play dots, I will have to compensate at the end.”
The 26-year-old says he is aware of what he has to do in the ongoing TNPL to break into the Tamil Nadu setup.
“As a middle-order batter, I carry the team. I need to create an impact in this role. If I am playing at a strike rate of 120, I have to get it to 140 or 150. That is the path I am working on this season,” the batter opined.
