New Delhi: Veteran India spinner Amit Mishra made some sensational claims about former India captain Virat Kohli, accusing him of not providing clarity when he was dropped from the team. Mishra played under both MS Dhoni and Kohli for India but suggested the two captains were very different when it came to handling players and giving them a clear picture regarding their selection and non-selection.
Mishra revealed Dhoni used to be honest with him regarding his selection or exclusion from the team, however, the same was not the case with Kohli, who never responded to him despite being asked twice. Mishra made the shocking revelations while speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube podcast.
Speaking about team selection, Mishra claimed skills alone are not enough for the players to consistently make it to the playing XI and that it is important to be liked as well. When asked about several instances when he was dropped from the playing XI under Dhoni’s captaincy, Mishra said he was not in a position to seek answers from the former captain but he always got a response through the head coach.
“Being liked matters a lot in team selection. Just playing good cricket isn’t enough. The captain always decides the Playing XI. I had an excellent rapport with MS Dhoni. I asked him twice why I wasn’t getting picked, he told me that I don’t fit the combination,” Mishra said on the podcast.
“I was told that I was being given a rest. I never asked for it. I hadn’t even played 10 Test matches by then, why would I ask for a rest or break? If I have to tell you honestly, I wasn’t in a position [to question Dhoni]. Yes, I asked the coach, and he told me to go ask Dhoni, but like I said, I wasn’t in that position to go and ask Dhoni. I asked the coach again and he just said we are giving you rest,” he added.
Not many would know, but Mishra made his debut for India as early as 2003 under Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy. However, he failed to cement his spot in the team. He made his comeback to the Indian team under Dhoni’s captaincy after making his T20I debut in 2010. One of the highest wicket-takers in IPL history, Mishra has played 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is for India in his career so far.
Never got a clear answer from Virat Kohli: Amit Mishra
Mishra’s last appearance for India came under Kohli’s captaincy in February 2017. The veteran spinner revealed he first approached Kohli during an IPL match to seek clarity about his chances in the future. Kohli assured him he would get back but allegedly never did. Mishra did manage to get back into the Indian team again, only to be dropped again after an injury.
He once again reached out to Kohli to seek clarity about his situation in the squad and was told that he will get an answer. However, Kohli failed to respond yet again, leaving the spinner disappointed.
“During the IPL, our last match was against RCB. I asked him to give a clear picture about my career. He said ‘Mishy bhai, I’ll ask and let you know’. Virat Kohli helped me in my comeback series against Sri Lanka – 2016. I was doing well and India needed a leg-spinner who could bowl in Sri Lanka,” said Mishra.
“When I came back, he said, ‘from today, you will train for fitness with me’. I told him I can’t lift weights like you but I can run and whatever else you want. Then I got injured so I asked him again, but I never got a clear answer. I messaged him. He read the text and said ‘I’ll let you know’ but never did,” he added.
Mishra is the 7th highest wicket-taker in the history of the Indian Premier League with 174 wickets in 162 matches at an average of 23.82 and an economy rate of 7.37, including 4 four-wicket hauls and a solitary fifer. Mishra was part of the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024 and it remains to be seen if he will enter the mega auction this year.
A veteran India spinner has accused Virat Kohli of not giving him clarity on his non-selection despite being asked twice. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
