Kolkata : Amit Mishra made shocking revelations on how MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli destroyed his career.
The former spinner played made debut in 2003 & played 22 Tests, 36 ODIs, 10 T20Is, claiming 156 wickets. However, his career ended abruptly out of the blue, as he was benched and disappeared out of no where.
Mishra recalled several instances regarding his abrupt finish of his career in a podcast, especially focusing on captains he played under at end of his career – MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli.
“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.”
“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.”
“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”, he added regarding Dhoni and selection panel.
Regarding Virat Kohli , he remarked, “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”.
“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.
Though Mishra hasn’t officially retired from international Cricket, it’s unlikely that he’ll make a comeback.
