Former Indian leg-spinner
Mishra’s comments came during a recent appearance on a podcast hosted by former cricketer Aakash Chopra. According to the spinner, the injury sustained during that 2017 match proved to be a significant turning point, effectively marking his final appearance for the national side despite the verbal commitments he received from the team management at the time.
Allegations of broken promises and ignored communication
Reflecting on the period immediately following his injury, Mishra recalled a conversation with Kumble, who was the head coach at the time. He stated that Kumble had encouraged him not to worry, assuring him that his return to the side would be automatic once he was match-fit. Mishra noted that he sought similar clarity from Kohli, who had assumed the captaincy, and received a comparable message of support from the skipper.
However, the situation changed once Mishra completed his recovery. The spinner claimed that when he approached Kohli to discuss his status, the captain asked for a period of seven to 10 days to provide an update. Mishra alleged that this window passed without any communication, and subsequent attempts to reach out to Kohli via phone calls and messages went unanswered.
Frustration over lack of transparency
Mishra expressed his disappointment regarding the lack of closure, noting that he never received an explanation for his exclusion. He drew comparisons to other players who had faced more severe or prolonged injury layoffs but were still able to secure their spots back in the Indian setup. For Mishra, the silence from the leadership was particularly difficult to navigate.
The former leg-spinner explained that after multiple failed attempts to contact the captain, he eventually decided to move on from the situation. To this day, Mishra maintains that he has never been given a clear reason as to why the initial assurances did not lead to a return to international cricket, leaving him to wonder why he was not afforded the same opportunities as his peers.
