A dream international debut turned into a difficult phase for former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra who struggled with depression for around a year and a half after being dropped from the national team in 2003. The setback also affected his domestic cricket career, leaving him confused and constantly questioning what had gone wrong.
Speaking to former India batter Aakash Chopra, Amit Mishra revealed that he was dropped from several teams despite playing regularly. He said he kept wondering what mistake he had made and why he was no longer getting opportunities. The uncertainty took a serious toll on his mental health and he spent nearly 18 months battling depression.
The leg-spinner explained that his struggles did not end with his exclusion from the Indian team. He was also dropped from the Duleep Trophy and the India A zonal team. His performance suffered during this period and he found it difficult to understand why his career had taken such a turn after his international debut.
Amit Mishra eventually got some clarity after speaking to a selector. The selector pointed out that he was not performing well enough to earn his place in the team. Reflecting on the conversation, Amit Mishra realised that he had become so focused on returning to the Indian team that he was neglecting his performances in domestic cricket.
The former cricketer admitted that he had nobody to discuss his struggles with during that difficult phase. He could not even share his worries with his family, which made the experience more challenging. Over time, he understood that he needed to focus on performing consistently in domestic cricket if he wanted another chance to represent India.
Amit Mishra also worked on improving his batting after receiving advice to strengthen that part of his game. His efforts eventually paid off when a strong domestic season earned him a place in the Duleep Trophy, helping him regain his confidence and put his career back on track. His hard work finally led to a return to the Indian team in 2008. Amit Mishra went on to represent India in 22 Tests, 36 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 10 T20 Internationals.
Looking back at his journey, Amit Mishra said he knew he had to keep proving his worth through his performances because he did not have influential backing to depend on. His experience highlights the mental challenges cricketers can face when opportunities disappear and the importance of persistence, self-improvement and consistent performances in making a comeback.
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