Amit Mishra breaks silence on selection bias: Being in and out of team was frustrating

India wrist spinner Amit Mishra has revealed that he was frustrated throughout his career due to being constantly in and out of the team. Mishra announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Thursday, September 4. The 42-year-old last played for India in 2017 against England during a T20I in Bengaluru.

Mishra played 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and ten T20Is, scalping 156 wickets in total. After calling time on his career, Mishra recalled how he was left disappointed after not getting regular chances.

"It was a very disappointing thing. Sometimes you're in the team, sometimes you're out. Sometimes you get a chance in the playing eleven, sometimes you don't. Of course, it's frustrating, and I was frustrated many times, no doubt. Some players are captain's favourites. But that doesn't matter much. You just have to prove yourself whenever you get a chance," Mishra told PTI.

Furthermore, he also recalled his maiden hat-trick in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2008 against Deccan Chargers and revealed how it allowed him to make a comeback into the Indian team. Mishra registered figures of 5/17 in four overs, which included the big wickets of Shahid Afridi and Herschelle Gibbs.

"I'd say the defining moment was the hat-trick I took in the 2008 IPL, where I also took five wickets in the match. From there, I made a comeback to the Indian team. Before that, I was consistently performing well in domestic cricket, taking 35-45 wickets every season, but I couldn't get back into the national team,” he added.

Mishra also recalled his Test debut against Australia in 2008, when he replaced Anil Kumble in the playing XI and went on to pick a five-wicket haul. He became just the sixth Indian to achieve the feat on Test debut.

"Anil Bhai told me in the morning of the match that he was injured. I played that match against Australia and took five wickets, which was a huge moment for me. It was a big thing to fill the shoes of Anil Kumble. There was pressure and I am glad that I won Player of the match on debut,” he said.

Apart from his international heroics, Mishra is also the eighth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history with 174 scalps from 162 matches. He also holds the record for most hat-tricks in the tournament, having achieved the feat thrice in 2008, 2011 and 2013.