Amit Mishra reveals Virat Kohli has gone silent after promising an Indian comeback

Former India all-rounder Amit Mishra has revealed how his hopes of returning to the national team after a serious injury turned to frustration, claiming Virat Kohli stopped responding to his calls and messages despite assuring him he would get another chance once he regained full fitness. On Aakash Chopra’s podcast, Mishra opened up about the uncertainty surrounding his Indian career, his quest to reinvent himself and the lack of closure that ultimately contributed to his decision to retire.

Mishra said he was encouraged during his recovery, including by Kohli, who became India’s captain after Anil Kumble’s tenure as head coach. The assurances left him believing that a return to international cricket was still possible. Despite returning to fitness and playing in domestic cricket and the IPL, he said he never got a clear answer about his future in India.

A promise to return

Mishra’s injury came during India’s T20I series against England in 2017. He recalled how his foot got stuck in a hole amid mud and rain, sidelining him for several months.

Recovery proved difficult, with Mishra facing repeated setbacks for eight to nine months. He spent time working on his rehabilitation, returned to training and then resurfaced with the injury.

During this period, Kumble offered him encouragement.

“When I left after the injury, Anil bhai was the coach. I told him about it and he said, ‘Don’t worry. Once you are fit, you will automatically come back’,” recalled Mishra.

Kohli, who became the captain, also calmed him down, according to the leg-spinner.

“I also spoke to Virat Kohli. I asked him, ‘Brother, what should I do?’ He said, “Don’t worry.” Be fully fit, take your time and you are there (in the team),” Mishra said.

For a player trying to rebuild his career after injury, the assurance offered hope that regaining fitness and returning to form could bring him back into contention.

THREE WEEKS OF SILENCE

Mishra said he eventually returned to competitive cricket and played well in domestic matches and the IPL. He believed he had done enough to enter the conversation about India’s comeback.

During the IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he approached Kohli, who led RCB, to ask about his prospects. The two had known each other for years and Mishra said he expected a straight answer.

According to Mishra, Kohli told him that he would provide an update within a week or 10 days. But the answer never came.

“One week passed, two weeks passed, three weeks passed but absolutely no update from him. I called him but he didn’t pick up. I messaged him but no response,” Mishra said.

He recalled trying to contact Kohli a few more times before finally giving up.

The lack of communication frustrated Mishra, especially as he believed his performances and fitness warranted clarity. He said other players who had suffered long injury layoffs had managed to return to the national team, so he wondered why his own comeback had not materialized.

“I was performing well before the injury. I got injured during the match. Even today I never got an answer,” he said.

NO CLEAR ANSWERS

Mishra said the absence of a clear explanation was particularly difficult to accept because he believed he had done what was required to get another opportunity. He returned to domestic cricket, performed in the IPL and was willing to prove his mettle with whatever assessment the team management required.

“I have performed in domestic cricket. I have also played in the IPL. If you are concerned about my fitness, tell me. I will work on it, come back and undergo a trial or a fitness test, whatever it takes,” he said.

For Mishra, the problem was not just that he missed out on selection. It was that he never understood why the door to an Indian comeback had seemingly closed despite his efforts to return from injury.

He said he would prefer a direct explanation if the selectors and team management were no longer considering him. At the very least, knowing where he stands would help him make informed decisions about his future.

UNTIL RETIREMENT WITHOUT CLOSING

Mishra continued to play domestic cricket and featured in the IPL before finally deciding to retire. Looking back, he cites the lack of a clear explanation of his career in India as his biggest regret.

The footy player said he had watched other injured players return to the national team while he continued to wait for his own prospects to clear. Despite being asked what he still had to do, he said he never got a definitive answer.

Asked if the episode still haunts him, Mishra insisted that he had moved on from disappointment.

“That chapter is over. I’ve moved on from it and I’m focusing on the next phase of my life. I’m not thinking about that right now,” he said.

– The end