“Asked Virat Kohli To Give Clear Picture, He Never Did”: Veteran Spinner’s Bold Accusation

Veteran Indian spinner Amit Mishra, one of the highest wicket-takers in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has made some startling claims about his experience playing under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. Mishra, who also played under MS Dhoni, shared that Dhoni was always transparent about his inclusion and exclusion from the team, a quality he found lacking in Kohli.

In a candid conversation on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube show ‘Unplugged’, Mishra discussed how team selection often hinges not just on skill but also on personal rapport. He emphasized that being in the good books of the captain is crucial for maintaining a place in the team.

“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, and he told me that I didn’t fit the combination,” Mishra explained.

Mishra recounted instances when he was told he was being “rested” despite not requesting a break. He felt he was not in a position to question Dhoni directly, though he did approach the coach, who deferred the decision back to Dhoni.

“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, so why would I ask for a rest or break? I wasn’t in a position to question Dhoni. I asked the coach, and he just said we are giving you rest,” Mishra added.

The most painful moment of Mishra’s career came when he was sidelined due to a knee injury. Despite being the Man of the Series and the Man of the Match against New Zealand in the previous series, Mishra did not get an automatic selection upon recovery, which was the norm for injured players.

“The worst I’ve felt in my career was when I picked up a knee injury five years ago. The series before I was the Man of the Series and the Man of the Match against New Zealand. It used to be the rule back then, if you get injured while playing, you are given an automatic comeback. It happened with Wriddhiman Saha, Anil Kumble, and Hardik Pandya, but I never got it,” Mishra lamented.

During an IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mishra confronted Kohli, seeking clarity about his future in the team. Despite Kohli’s assurances that he would inquire with the management and provide an answer, Mishra claims he never received a clear response.

“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 in 2016. I was doing well and India needed a leg-spinner who could bowl in Sri Lanka. 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 do 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,” Mishra revealed.

Mishra’s revelations highlight the challenges players face in maintaining their place in the team, underscoring the importance of transparent communication and support from the leadership. His experiences offer a glimpse into the complex dynamics of team selection and player management in Indian cricket.