"Being liked matters a lot in team selection" - Amit Mishra on lack of clarity on his playing future under MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli

Veteran Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra played under the leadership of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli at different points in his career. He has now claimed he didn't get much clarity on why he wasn't getting regular game time under both former skippers. Mishra played his last ODI in 2016 under Dhoni's captaincy and his last Test in the same year under Kohli's leadership.

Speaking to Shubhankar Mishra on his YouTube show 'Unplugged', Mishra opened up on how despite having a good rapport with Dhoni, he never got clarity as to why he wasn't being regularly picked in the team. The only answer he got was that he wasn't fitting the combination.

"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, he told me that I don't fit the combination 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, why would I ask for a rest or break?" Amit Mishra said.

Mishra claimed the then-Team India coach would tell him to be upfront with MS Dhoni about his future. However, the spinner felt he wasn't in a position to directly question the legendary wicketkeeper-batter.

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Amit Mishra on his experience under Virat Kohli's captaincy

After MS Dhoni moved on from captaincy in 2017, Amit Mishra played under Virat Kohli. Mishra made a comeback to the Indian team during the 2015 tour of Sri Lanka and played for a few Tests in a row. However, he was once again phased out and couldn't understand why he wasn't getting game time.

Recalling a chat with Kohli, Mishra said in the same interaction:

"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'. 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."

Amit Mishra's last international appearance for India was in a T20I against England in Bengaluru in February 2017.