5 reasons why Amit Mishra should always be in the Indian playing XI

Two days back the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that the veteran spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested for the T20 series against England and that tweakers Parvez Rasool and Amit Mishra have been drafted into the squad as replacements.

Now, this was required as both Ashwin and Jadeja have been playing constant cricket for the last few months. Also, this gives a huge opportunity to players like Mishra and Rasool to prove themselves at the big stage.

Mishra last played for India in the Test series against England where he picked up five wickets in two games. Prior to that, he played in the ODI series against New Zealand where he was the men in blue’s top wicket-taker with 15 strikes at 14.33 and an economy rate of 4.79. He had played that series, too, in the absence of Ashwin and Jadeja, who were rested.

However, in this article, we look at why Mishra should be always in the playing XI and why he should not be just a mere replacement.

#5 His leg-spinners are old school but effective

Mishra has one of the most lethal legspinners in the game

Amit Mishra is one of those few leg-spinners around the world now, who gives it a real rip. He is not one like an Anil Kumble or Samuel Badree who troubled batsmen more with their line and length. Mishra usually, troubles the batters with his spin.

He also gives his leg spinners a nice loop so that batsmen are drawn into playing the false shot, something which the great Shane Warne used to do. When in full rhythm, his leg-spinners are quite a difficult delivery to face as he almost turns it square on dusty Indian pitches. And therefore, dismissals like caught behind, stump come into play.

#4 He has outstanding variations

Mishra in a tour game

Remember the outstanding googly he bowled to castle BJ Watling in the series decider against New Zealand at Vizag? No? Well, it was a picture perfect googly which spun through the batsman’s gate the knocked the bails off.

Now he has sharpened the googly over the years and now seems to have mastered the art of bowling one. It is such a delight to watch such a delivery cleaning up a batsman.

Also in recent years, he has developed the front of the hand faster one. Mishra also bowls it like a medium pacer with the seam up. He used it a lot in the World T20 and then the games which took place after it. The delivery has been quite successful so far.

He has added a few more variations to his armoury like the drifter and the one that skids through. All these combined make him a pocket-sized grenade.

#3 He is a fearless bowler

Mishra celebrates the stumping of David Miller

Mishra is one of those few bowlers in world cricket now who isn’t afraid to toss it up. Yes, he mixes his flighted ones with the googly and the skidder but every now and then he invites the batsman to have a go at him.

In limited overs cricket you need a big heart to bowl loopy deliveries, when you know you can be taken for plenty with field restrictions but then Mishra is one such cricketer. In the New Zealand series too one of the key reasons for his success was his flight and guile which tempted the Kiwis to go for big shots and in the process throw their wicket away.

One of the best things about him is that even if he is taken for a few he would still bowl those delightful airy leg-spinners.

#2 Outstanding control

Mishra has outstanding control over his deliveries

Be it the leg-spinner, the googly or the faster one. Mishra has outstanding control of all his varieties. Wrist spinners nowadays lack that control and end up bowling long hoffs and full tosses. But with Mishra, you would seldom see him doing that.

Now, this hasn’t happened overnight. You would constantly see him sweating it out in the nets, mainly focussing on his weaker deliveries.

He has also been a veteran at the domestic level and has thus mastered the art of finding the perfect length and line.

He is a quick learner too and does not make the same mistake twice. He is quite brilliant also, in setting up a batsman by sending a few away and then bringing one back to him.

#1 He is difficult to pick

Mishra has one of the finest googlies in the game

Mishra is quite adept at disguising his deliveries. He does bowl the legspinner and the faster one with a different grip but still, batsmen fail to pick him.

Also, his googly is quite the same. Obviously, he bowls it from the back of the hand like traditional leg-spinners do but the action is almost the same and thus it becomes difficult to read sometimes.

The 34-year-old is also fast of the pitch and therefore picking him off it is another difficult proposition for the batters.

Also what adds to his weight on the team is he is no mug with the bat and can use the long handle when required.