Veteran Indian cricketer Amit Mishra candidly discussed the experiences and challenges he faced during his time away from the national team. Though he has not formally announced his retirement, the seasoned spinner revealed how injuries and team selection decisions prevented him from cementing a permanent place in the national squad.

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have given match-winners to Indian cricket but also those who were neither here nor there.

Mishra made his debut under Anil Kumble’s captaincy and went on to play under the leadership of both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Despite an international career spanning 22 Tests, 36 ODIs, and 10 T20Is in which he claimed 156 wickets, Mishra’s career ended on a sour note. In a candid interview, Mishra recounted several instances that left him feeling resentful.

“Team selection heavily prioritizes likeability, not just playing ability. Simply excelling on the cricket pitch is insufficient. The captain ultimately decides the Playing XI. I had a strong rapport with MS Dhoni, but when I inquired twice about why I wasn’t being selected, he explained that I didn’t fit the team’s desired combination,” Mishra said on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube show ‘Unplugged’.

“I was informed that I would be given a rest, though I had not requested it. At that point, I had not even played 10 Test matches, so I saw no reason to ask for a break. To be honest, I was not in a position to question Dhoni’s decision. I did ask the coach, who told me to speak to Dhoni directly, but I felt I could not do so. When I asked the coach again, he simply stated that they were giving me a rest,” he added.

“During the IPL, we faced RCB. I asked the team management for clarity on my career prospects. They said they’d look into it and get back to me.

“Virat Kohli played a key role in my comeback to the Indian team for the 2016 Sri Lanka series. I was performing well, and the team needed a leg-spinner who could be effective in Sri Lankan conditions. When I returned to the squad, Kohli told me he wanted me to train with him personally. I explained that while I couldn’t lift weights like him, I was willing to do any other training he recommended,” remarked Mishra.

“However, when I later asked Kohli again about my future, I never received a clear answer. I even messaged him, but he simply read the text and said he’d get back to me, which he never did,” he revealed.