Published on: Oct 23, 2026 4:31 pm IST|Updated on: Oct 23, 2026 4:32 pm IST
Former Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra has opened up about the bittersweet ending to his international career, revealing how initial assurances from the then skipper Virat Kohli and Coach Anil Kumble vanished into silence. Amit last represented India in February 2017 during a T20 International against England in Bangalore, where he suffered a leg injury.
Speaking to former Indian international Akash Chopra on an episode of the podcast ‘Baith & Bol,’ the veteran leg-spinner gave details of the conversations he had with Virat Kohli & Anil Kumble regarding his return to the national team.
According to Amit, his initial departure from the team due to a leg injury was accompanied by strong words of encouragement from head coach Anil Kumble. The then head coach assured the leg-spinner that his spot in the side is secured and once he gets fit, he will be an automatic selection.
“When I was leaving after getting injured, Anil Kumble was the coach. So I told Anil Bhai, I said, ‘Anil Bhai. Don’t worry. As soon as you get fit, you automatically… you will come back,'” Mishra recalled.
Shortly after Mishra’s injury layoff began, the leadership dynamics in Indian cricket shifted, with Virat Kohli taking over the captaincy across formats following the end of Kumble’s tenure. Seeking clarity on where he stood in the new management’s plans, Mishra approached Kohli directly.
When Amit raised the question of his selection into the Indian team to the then skipper Virat Kohli, the newly appointed all-format skipper gave him a firm verbal commitment, reassuring him that fitness was the only requirement for his return.
“Brother, what needs to be done?’ He said, ‘You don’t worry. Get fully fit and comfortable, and you are there [in the team],'” Mishra said.
However, once Amit completed his rehabilitation and recovery, the communication channel between him and Virat broke down completely. When he reached out to his skipper for an update, the promised follow-up never materialized.
“So, I went to him. I asked, ‘Brother, what’s the situation?’ So he said, ‘I will let you know in a week to ten days.’ Then brother, one week passed, two weeks passed, three weeks passed, there was absolutely no update from him. I called him… so, he did not pick up the call. I messaged him, but there was no reply,” Mishra revealed.
Desperate for clarity regarding his position, Mishra made multiple attempts to get in touch with Kohli, but his calls and messages went left unanswered. Realizing that the team management had moved in a different direction, he eventually chose to stop pursuing the matter and any further updates.
“I called again, he did not answer. I called twice more, still nothing… so I also let it go. Then I thought, ‘Brother, what can we do?’ When someone does not want you, what can you do? When players who got more severely injured than you, and were injured for much longer, made their comebacks… yet, I have never received any answer to this day,” Mishra added.
Mishra pointed out the contrast in treatment, noting that other cricketers who endured longer injury layoffs were welcomed back into the national side upon proving their fitness. For Mishra, however, the lack of explanation or direct communication meant his appearance in early 2017 against England remained his final match in Indian colors, bringing an abrupt end to an impressive international career.
His international career may have ended on an abrupt and bittersweet note, but Amit Mishra went on to become one of the highest wicket-takers in the cash-rich Indian Premier League. He made a name for himself in the premier franchise T20 tournament, playing for the Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the Lucknow Super Giants.
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Having represented Delhi Capitals in the majority of his IPL career, localite Amit Mishra has returned to his beloved franchise in a different capacity, i.e., the spin bowling coach ahead of the IPL 2027 season. He will be working closely with the Capitals’ spinners to prepare them well for the upcoming season.