Amit Mishra, the veteran legspinner, bids his farewell to his 25-year cricketing career. He admitted to struggling with depression after being sidelined for almost 5 years. The seasoned player also admitted his wish to make a comeback earlier.
Mishra came into the international limelight after his ODI debut against South Africa at Dhaka during the TVS Cup, 2003. After this moderate debut stage, he almost disappeared from the public eye for nearly 5 years. As the room left little scope for Mishra to establish himself while his fellow mates like Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble rose into the limelight.
While talking to ANI, Mishra noted, “After my debut, there was a 5-year gap in my career. If it wasn’t there, I could have played more matches. I made my debut in Bangladesh in a one-day match in 2003. After that, there was a 5-year gap. I couldn’t return to the Indian team in five years. I was performing and doing everything. But I can’t say I regret it. I can say that if I had made my comeback earlier, 3-4 years ago or two years ago, then I could have played more matches and performed better. So, that’s one thing. There is no regret.”
During his five-year exile, Mishra toiled relentlessly for Haryana in the domestic circuit, striving to catch the selectors’ eye. His singular focus was on performing, even when doubts lingered about his abilities. A moment of self-reflection gave him clarity and resilience, helping him endure the tough phase until he eventually forced his way back into the side.
“Whenever I got a chance, I performed. Even though I played in such a big league, played in such big places, and played all over the world, I proved myself there. I performed there when people didn’t believe in me. After that, every team started to keep two left-spinners in their team. So, I am really happy with my career. Yes, there were ups and downs in my career,” he added.
More than two decades after his debut, Mishra carries no regrets. Though he battled depression for over a year, he eventually found ways to stay motivated even when a comeback seemed unlikely. His focus turned towards simply enjoying the game while working on his shortcomings, particularly fitness and batting.
“But I have no regrets. I gave my 100 per cent whenever I got a chance. And I always proved what I was told. I focused on performing. Although I was depressed for 1-1.5 years. I was angry. I was performing. At that time, it was a little limited. But I was a little worried. But after 1-2 years, I talked to myself. I said, ‘I want to play cricket.’ I am playing cricket. “And I am performing,” he stated.
Mishra represented India in 68 matches across formats, claiming 156 wickets during his international career. On the domestic front, he was a dependable force for Haryana and went on to establish himself among the leading wicket-takers in IPL history.
