Published: Aug 04, 2013, 12:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 23, 2014, 09:54 PM (IST)
Amit Mishra was the leading wicket-taker in India’s 5-0 ODI whitewash over Zimbabwe with 18 scalps © Getty Images (File Photo)
Amit Mishra was India’s star performer in the recently concluded 5-0 ODI whitewash of Zimbabwe. The leg-spinner was the leading wicket-taker with 18 scalps to his name. Nishad Pai Vaidya reviews Mishra’s performance in Zimbabwe and his one-day career so far.
In 2003, Amit Mishra was summoned to the Indian One-Day International (ODI) team for the tri-series in Bangladesh, which involved South Africa as well. While Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh were India’s main spin weapons, they searched for viable alternatives to form a strong back-up. Mishra’s first stint only yielded him three ODI caps — where he did decently well but not enough to merit a spot in the long run. Now 10 years down the line, he has played only 20 ODIs and has taken 37 wickets at an impressive average of 21.18. Where was he all these years? Will the tour to Zimbabwe usher in a more successful phase in one-day cricket for the leg-spinner?
The Zimbabweans were clueless against Mishra and he finished the five-match series with 18 wickets at a mind-boggling average of 11.61. He looked in complete command and skittled the opposition batsmen out like nine-pins. It was embarrassing for the home side and they were made to look amateurish by the leggie. Mishra has now written his name into the record books as his 18 scalps are the most by a bowler in a five-match bilateral series in ODI history.
Although Zimbabwe were by no means a formidable opposition, Mishra has set the right paces and has given ample evidence of his ability. He tricked the batsmen with his flight, varied his length and also bowled the lethal googly — one that was almost impossible to pick. It is his biggest strength as he conceals it well and turns it a big way. Even when he was attacked, he kept calm and unleashed a new weapon from his abundant bag of tricks. If there is any weakness, it is his tendency to overstep. For a spinner, it is a sin as it gifts the batsman a free-hit.
A leg-spinner can be expensive as it is a difficult art to master and the batsmen can be particularly severe in one-day cricket. If they ever so slightly err in length, they can get hit around. However, Mishra is one leg-spinner who uses length to his advantage. He tosses it up and keeps the batsman guessing on whether he should play forward or move back. At the same time, he also fires the quicker ones at similar lengths to bamboozle the opposition. On this tour, he bowled the faster delivery a few times and that added to his aura. There was no discernible change in his action as came into his stride and it was only at the point of delivery where he switched his grip to bowl seam-up. The years of experience at the domestic level and consistency at the Indian Premier League (IPL) are evident in his growth.
In an international career that has spanned over 10 years, Mishra has been in and out of the side — unable to seal his spot. In the aftermath of Kumble’s retirement and Harbhajan’s alarming dip in form, Mishra was one of the contenders to take on the mantle, but fell behind the pecking order in Tests with the emergence of Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin. However, in one-day cricket, he might be the perfect foil for Ashwin. In Mishra’s previous ODI assignment — against West Indies in 2011 — he finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series with 11 victims. It was quite astonishing that he wasn’t considered for ODIs after that tour. Ashwin climbed up the ladder as Mishra wasn’t considered and now the latter is back in business.
Mishra’s good performances for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2013 marked his return to the Indian ODI team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. However, he had to watch the action from the dug-out as Ashwin bowled brilliantly and Ravindra Jadeja — the all-rounder — was at his dominant best. Thus, Mishra had to bide his time and wait for the tour to Zimbabwe. His performance is good news for India as they now have an option apart from Ashwin. At one point in time, India were searching for spinners when Harbhajan was the only man for the job. Now, they have enough resources and firepower in that department.
If one looks at India’s spin bowlers, one would find that each one of them adds a different dimension to the equation. Ashwin is the uncanny off-spinner who is in the modern mould. Jadeja is the accurate left-arm spinner with the knack of picking wickets on any surface. Mishra is the classical leg-spinner with his own set of variations. But, will Mishra be a part of the eleven once Ashwin returns? It is tough to dislodge Ashwin and India wouldn’t play two specialist spinners as Jadeja already provides that option. His chance may only come if there is a rank turner or one of the other two tweakers sit out for some reason or the other.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_44)
