Amit Mishra reveals Virat Kohli went silent after promising India comeback

Amit Mishra has claimed Virat Kohli stopped responding to his calls after assuring him of an India comeback following injury. Speaking on Aakash Chopra's podcast, the former spinner revealed how the lack of answers contributed to his frustration and retirement.

Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra has revealed how his hopes of returning to the national team faded into frustration after a serious injury, claiming that Virat Kohli stopped responding to his calls and messages despite assuring him that he would get another opportunity once he regained full fitness. Speaking on Aakash Chopra's podcast, Mishra opened up about the uncertainty surrounding his India career, his efforts to prove himself again and the lack of closure that eventually 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 remained possible. However, despite working his way back to fitness and performing in domestic cricket and the IPL, he said he never received a clear answer about his future with India.

A COMEBACK PROMISE

Mishra's injury came during India's T20I series against England in 2017. He recalled getting his leg stuck in a hole amid muddy conditions and rain, leaving him sidelined for several months.

The recovery proved difficult, with Mishra struggling through repeated setbacks over eight to nine months. He would spend time working on his rehabilitation, return to training and then suffer another recurrence of the injury.

During that period, Kumble offered him encouragement.

"When I was leaving after getting injured, Anil bhai was the coach. I told him about it, and he said, 'Don't worry. As soon as you get fit, you'll automatically come back,'" Mishra recalled.

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

"I also spoke to Virat Kohli. I asked him, 'Brother, what should I do?' He said, 'Don't worry. Get fully fit, take your time, and you're there [in the team],'" Mishra said.

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

THREE WEEKS OF SILENCE

Mishra said he eventually returned to competitive cricket and performed well in domestic matches and the IPL. He believed he had done enough to put himself in the conversation for an India comeback.

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

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

"One week passed, two weeks passed, three weeks passed, but there was absolutely no update from him. I called him, but he didn't pick up. I messaged him, but there was no reply," Mishra said.

He recalled trying to contact Kohli several more times before eventually giving up.

The lack of communication frustrated Mishra, particularly because he believed his performances and fitness warranted clarity. He said other players who had endured lengthy injury layoffs had managed to return to the national team, leaving him wondering why his own comeback had not materialised.

"I had performed well before getting injured. I was injured during a match. Even today, I have never received 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 earn another opportunity. He had returned to domestic cricket, performed in the IPL and was willing to prove his fitness through any assessment the team management required.

"I had performed in domestic cricket. I had performed in the IPL as well. If you have concerns about my fitness, tell me. I'll work on it, come back and take a trial or a fitness test, whatever is required," he said.

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

He said he would have preferred a direct explanation if the selectors and team management no longer considered him an option. Knowing where he stood would, at the very least, have helped him make informed decisions about his future.

RETIREMENT WITHOUT CLOSURE

Mishra continued playing domestic cricket and featured in the IPL before eventually deciding to retire. Looking back, he identified the absence of a clear explanation about his India career as his biggest regret.

The leg-spinner said he had watched other injured players return to the national team while he continued waiting for clarity about his own prospects. Despite asking what more he needed to do, he said he never received a definitive answer.

Asked whether the episode still troubles him, Mishra insisted that he has moved on from the disappointment.

"That chapter is over. I've moved on from it, and I'm focused on the next phase of my life. I don't think about it now," he said.