Veteran Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra retired from all forms of cricket at 42, closing the chapter on a career that lasted more than 20 years. Mishra played for India in all formats between 2003 and 2017, and continued to play in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League until 2024.
Mishra’s first international appearance was against South Africa in Dhaka, in 2003, and he endured a long wait until 2008 to make his international debut in Test format, becoming an immediate success against Australia in Mohali when he took a five-wicket haul. Mishra was capped for India in 22 Tests, 36 ODIs, and 10 T20Is, taking 156 international wickets. Mishra felt he could have contributed to the national team’s success, but was limited to limited opportunities because of the quality of the long-standing spinners, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. However, he was recognized around the world as one of the last of the classical leg-break spinners, and produced a brilliant googly.
The IPL has been one of the biggest platforms for Mishra. As a player for the Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants, he has played nearly all the seasons of the IPL, 2008 through 2024. Over that time, Mishra recorded 174 wickets in 162 innings, and is eighth on the IPL all-time wicket-takers list. He holds the record for the most hat-tricks in IPL history; 3 hat-tricks in 2008, 2011 and 2013. Mishra attributed his IPL hat-trick in 2008 to a turning point for his career which saw him included back into the Indian Team.
In first-class domestic cricket, Mishra represented Haryana and put up staggering figures: 535 wickets from 152 first-class games, 252 wickets from 152 List A games, 285 wickets from 259 T20s and an unbeaten double-century (202*) in the Ranji Trophy in 2012as a batsman.
While mostly expressing gratitude to cricket such that it gave him “respect, identity, and purpose”, Mishra lamented the frustrations of inconsistent selection, but held true to his hard work and positivity.
Mishra has produced a legacy that of one of India’s greatest legspinners, an accomplished performer in the IPL, and a cricketer that played with heart, whenever he has had the opportunity.
