The first phase was defined by the daunting task of stepping into the shoes of the legendary Anil Kumble. The second was navigating the fierce competition posed by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, whose styles—an off-spinner and a left-arm orthodox—aligned seamlessly with the strategies of captains Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli.
With Test batting evolving rapidly, Mishra’s 76 wickets in 22 Tests don’t fully capture his prowess as a leg-spinner with a sharp leg-break and a deceptive googly. Often relegated to the third-choice spinner behind Ashwin and Jadeja, his opportunities were limited.
“It was tough—sometimes you’re in the squad, sometimes you’re not. Sometimes you make the XI, sometimes you sit out. "It’s frustrating, no question," Mishra shared in an exclusive PTI Videos interview after announcing his retirement from competitive cricket. “But I kept reminding myself of my dream to play for India. Being one of the 15 players in the national team is something millions strive for. That kept me grounded and positive.”
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Mishra acknowledged the mental toll of his stop-start career. “Whenever I felt frustrated, I focused on self-improvement—be it fitness, batting, or bowling. Every time I got a chance to play for India, I delivered, and that’s something I’m proud of. Hard work was never an issue for me.”
Despite his skill, Mishra often found himself overshadowed by brilliance—Ashwin and Jadeja in Tests, and later Yuzvendra Chahal in T20Is. His final international game was a T20I against England in Bengaluru in 2017, where he bowled an impressive 1/23 in four overs at the batter-friendly Chinnaswamy Stadium. Yet, Chahal’s 6/25 in the same match marked the end of Mishra’s international T20 career, despite his stellar IPL record of 174 wickets in 162 games, including a hat-trick in the 2008 inaugural edition.
Mishra credits the IPL for his Test comeback. “The hat-trick in the 2008 IPL, where I also took five wickets, was a turning point. I was consistently taking 35-45 wickets every domestic season, but it was that IPL performance with Delhi Daredevils that brought me back into the Indian team. The year before, I took 25 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which earned me the IPL contract. That hat-trick defined my career and kickstarted my T20 journey,” he said.
Reflecting on team dynamics, Mishra noted that captains often have preferred players, but he saw it as an opportunity to prove himself. “It doesn’t matter if someone’s a captain’s favourite. You just focus on performing when you get the chance. If you keep delivering, things change.”
Bowling to Indian batters in the IPL, he said, was always tougher than facing overseas players. “Getting the wicket of players like Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, or Virat Kohli felt special. They can turn a game in a moment. You know their game inside out, so outsmarting them gives you a unique sense of pride. Indian batters are a spinner’s toughest challenge.”
Mishra fondly recalled his Test debut against Australia in Mohali in 2008. “Anil Bhai told me that morning he was injured. I played, took five wickets, and won Player of the Match. Filling Kumble’s shoes was immense pressure, but that moment was huge for me.”
As he steps away from the game, Mishra has no regrets. “I played for 25 years across three decades with legends like Sachin Tendulkar, under captains like MS Dhoni, and alongside stars like Rohit Sharma. Cricket gave me respect, identity, and purpose. It’s emotional to step back, but I’m content.”
Mishra embraces his quiet exit. “Not everyone gets a grand farewell, and that’s fine. I gave my all, played with heart, and performed when it mattered. The love of fans and respect from peers—that’s my greatest achievement.”
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