Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra has disclosed that he suffered from depression for 18 months after being dropped from the national team, a period defined by his inability to understand his exclusion. The 45-year-old, who made his international debut in 2003, found himself sidelined from both the senior squad and key domestic tournaments, including the Duleep Trophy and the India A zonal setup. In a revealing conversation with former India batter Aakash Chopra, Mishra described the psychological impact of this uncertainty, stating, “I went into depression for a year and a half. I kept thinking about what my mistake was. I was playing everywhere, but the only question in my mind was that, ‘what did I do wrong?'”
Key Match Highlights & Tactical Analysis
The turning point in Mishra’s mindset came when a selector directly addressed his performance metrics, forcing him to confront the gap between his desire to play for India and his on-field execution. Mishra admitted that he had become fixated on the prestige of the national jersey rather than the fundamentals of his craft. “Then a selector told me that I was not performing. I sat down and thought, and I understood that I was thinking of playing for India itself but not performing in domestic cricket,” he recalled. This realization shifted his focus from seeking validation through selection to improving his consistency in domestic matches, a critical adjustment that allowed him to eventually return to the international stage.
Mishra’s experience highlights the often-overlooked mental health challenges faced by cricketers navigating the high-pressure environment of Indian cricket. His journey serves as a stark reminder that being dropped is not just a professional setback but a significant psychological hurdle that requires immediate and honest self-assessment. By openly discussing his battle with depression, Mishra contributes to a growing dialogue around player welfare, emphasizing that performance anxiety and identity crises are common among athletes who struggle to reconcile their self-worth with team selection decisions.
Source: Yahoo Sports
