- By Himanshu Badola
- Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:23 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Former India cricketer Amit Mishra reacted to the claims of MS Dhoni's captaincy being the main reason behind the veteran spinner not reaching the height he was meant to be. Recalling his playing days under MS Dhoni, Mishra came up with a candid and balanced perspective on a relationship often surrounded by speculation.
Over the years, there have been talks around Mishra did not get Dhoni's full trust, especially when India increasingly relied on spin mainstays like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Some fans and former cricketers believe that Mishra’s international career might have taken a different path had Dhoni not been captain.
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Talking about these speculations, Mishra said that his journey in Indian cricket saw him competing for places during a highly competitive era. Rather than expressing regret, the veteran spinner highlighted how Dhoni’s leadership played a crucial role in shaping his career. "People say if Dhoni were not there, my career would have been better. But who knows if he was not there, maybe I would not even have been in the team. I came into the came under him only. And I kept making a comeback. He would have agreed as a captain, and that is why I kept coming back. So there is a positive way to look at things," Mishra was quoted as saying to MensXP.
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Despite showing glimpses of his bowling brilliance, the leg-spinner Mishra couldn't cement his place in the lineup. In Test cricket, he featured in 22 matches for India and claimed 76 wickets, often proving to be a potent weapon on turning tracks. In ODIs, he played 36 matches, picking up 64 wickets at an impressive average. The 43-year-old also represented India in 10 T20Is, where he took 16 wickets, showcasing his adaptability in the shortest format of the game.
Mishra dismissed the narrative that Dhoni was distant or unapproachable as a captain. Interestingly, he went on to mention several instances where Dhoni actively guided him during matches, offering timely advice and tactical clarity.
"I did have the support. Whenever I was in the 11, it was never like Dhoni did not come to me and give me tips or tell me things. He would always tell me things. I was playing against New Zealand, which was my last one-day series. Dhoni was the captain. It was a tight game. I came to bowl, and we had scored 260-270 runs. I thought of stopping the flow of runs and not going for wickets," he said.