Mishra's journey to the Indian side
Before his call-up to the Indian side, legspinner Amit Mishra, who took seven wickets on Test debut, faced a lot of disappointments and nearly gave up the game
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Before his call-up to the Indian side, legspinner Amit Mishra, who took seven wickets on Test debut, faced a lot of disappointments and nearly gave up the game. He talks to the Hindustan Times' Varun Gupta about being rejected by the Delhi selectors and his move to Haryana.
Amit Mishra, who had taken wickets by the hatful in local and trial matches, not only did not make the shortlist, he was also told by Delhi selectors that he was surplus to requirements and did not have enough talent. Specific reasons weren’t given, except a point was made. It was suggested he “work on his weight if he wanted to play oonchi (top) cricket”... That Kotla day, he decided to pack his bags, leave the city of his birth and move to Haryana. And till that unexpected debut at the second India-Australia Test at Mohali, struggle was his glory, perseverance and indefatigability his allies, and shadows his home. Twice he came within a whisker of breaking down and quitting the game. And yet he couldn't, for as he said, he didn't know what he could do with those wrists and fingers other than tweak the ball. The last time he went into a depression was in 2005, when a shoulder injury curbed his potency.
In the Hindu WV Raman writes that though Mishra's emergence has provided relief, he must give way to Anil Kumble if the latter is fit for the next Test.
Nishi Narayanan is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo