Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra has made a fresh revelation about his unsuccessful attempt to return to the national team after suffering a leg injury in 2017. Mishra claimed that Virat Kohli stopped responding to his calls and messages despite initially assuring him that he would get another opportunity once he regained full fitness.

The former spinner sustained the injury during a T20I against England in Bengaluru. According to Mishra, then-head coach Anil Kumble encouraged him to concentrate on his recovery and assured him that he would be considered for selection after becoming fit.

Amit Mishra said Kohli, who was leading India at the time, also gave him a similar assurance when he sought clarity about his future. “I also asked Virat Kohli, I said, ‘Brother, what needs to be done?’ He said, ‘You don’t worry. Get fully fit and comfortable, and you are there [in the team],’” Mishra said.

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Mishra alleged that the situation changed after he recovered from the injury and contacted Kohli to understand his chances of returning to the Indian team.

According to the leg-spinner, Kohli promised to provide an update within seven to 10 days. However, Amit Mishra claimed that several weeks passed without any response, despite his repeated attempts to contact the former India captain. “So he said, ‘I will let you know in a week to ten days.’ Then, brother, one week passed, two weeks passed, three weeks passed; there was absolutely no update from him. I called him… he did not pick up the call. I messaged him, but there was no reply,” Mishra said.

He added that he made several more attempts to reach Kohli but eventually stopped pursuing the matter after receiving no response.

Mishra also questioned why other players who had suffered more serious injuries or spent longer periods away from the game had managed to return to the Indian team after recovering. “When players who got more severely injured than you, and were injured for much longer, made their comebacks… yet, I have never received any answer to this day,” he said.

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The T20I against England in Bengaluru proved to be Amit Mishra’s final international appearance. He finished his career with 22 Test matches, 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is for India. The leg-spinner said he eventually decided to move forward rather than continue seeking an explanation about his international future. “When someone does not want you, what can you do?” he said.

Despite his playing career coming to an end, Mishra remains involved in cricket. He was recently appointed spin bowling coach of Delhi Capitals, taking on a new role in the Indian Premier League after years of experience as an international and domestic cricketer.