The curious case of Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra has been a star at the World T20

In the last few years, Amit Mishra has been a part of almost every series India has played. As shocking as it may sound, he made his debut way back in 2003. Yet, he has played just 23 ODIs and 5 T20Is. Which begs the question, why has he been neglected all this while? The talent that he possesses is too good to be wasted warming benches. The effect that he has had on this Indian bowling attack in the ongoing World T20 shows that my statement is not unfounded.

India did not enter this tournament as one of the favourites. The Indian bowling attack looked innocuous. All that uproar subsided as India restricted Pakistan and West Indies to scores below 130, scores well below par. Suddenly, India looks like the team to beat. It would not be wrong to suggest that Amit Mishra was a major contributor in both those victories. He bagged the Man of the Match awards in both those matches, after all.

An attacking and fearless leg spinner is always handy for any captain in limited overs matches, as is an accurate spinner in Test cricket. Mishra has got all that is required to be both – the guile and the lack of fear to toss the ball above the batsman’s eye line as well as the precision which is not a common trait among leg spinners. Add to that a baffling googly and you have a world-class leg spinner.

It is refreshing to see a spinner who is not afraid to flight the ball in T20 cricket, in an age where a lot of spinners resort to bowling quicker through the air and firing darts at batsmen. It might help curb the flow of runs, but it is very difficult to pick up wickets that way.

His stats too suggest that he deserves a run in the side. An economy rate of below 5.50 runs in an over in T20 cricket sounds unreal. Well, Mishra has an economy rate of 5.26. Also, he picks up his wickets at about 10 runs apiece. Sunil Narine and Saeed Ajmal, two of his counterparts, who are known to have mystified a lot of batsmen with their art, have economy rates of 5.82 and 6.27 respectively. Yes, the sample sizes for Narine’s and Ajmal’s economy rates are larger. I am not making any comparisons, merely putting things in perspective.

“Underrated” is an understatement for Amit Mishra. He has been eternally overshadowed in spite of possessing great talent. However, Mishra’s recent performances warrant a permanent place in the side. At least in T20 cricket where batsmen have no choice but to go after him, which makes him all the more dangerous.

Being a leg spinner, he might be bludgeoned for a few extra runs in the odd game, but it is well worth persisting with him. However talented Mishra might be, he can’t do much from the bench, can he? Why he has been left out of the team all this while is a puzzle. A curious case, indeed.