Experience of being senior spinner is enjoyable: Mishra

After not getting a game in the Test series, Mishra has made it count in the one-dayers by picking up three wickets in both Dharamsala and Delhi. “The experience (of helping youngsters) has been good so far. Whenever they ask me, I give them tips. Even in the game, they ask me during meetings and I try to help them as much as I can. I am really enjoying this role and I feel it is my duty to support the youngsters,” said Mishra on the eve of the third ODI. 

A berth in the Champions Trophy seems like a long shot for Mishra at this stage. He has been in and out of the team across formats ever since making his international debut in 2003. 

While he is happily sharing the tricks of the trade with youngsters like Axar Patel and Jayant Yadav, Mishra gets his share of learning from coach and former teammate Anil Kumble. “Anil bhai helps me a lot. He doesn’t talk a lot about technique, it is mentally that he helps a great deal. For example, I was not selected in the eleven for the Test matches but still he was there to help me. Besides, we discuss where to bowl, at what pace to bowl, the field placement against the batsmen. It is a lot of learning. Even though he (Kumle) is a bowler, he is always giving tips to batsmen especially the tailenders who can play a crucial role in matches that go down to the wire,” said the spinner. 

Despite the loss, the atmosphere remained positive. “Anil bhai is always positive no matter what happens. The team has the talent to win every match. But like I said, we did not play to our potential. We would have won had we played proper cricket. We will try not to repeat the mistakes of the last game,” he said. 

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