He has featured in just six games this Indian Premier League season, but Amit Mishra has a sense of fulfilment. Not only because Delhi Capitals is on the cusp of qualifying for the playoffs but also because the veteran leggie became the first spinner to claim 150 wickets in IPL history.
“You have to work extremely hard. I try and upgrade myself every season. I have missed a few games this season. I think it took me a little bit longer to read the conditions and adapt my bowling accordingly, but I think I am getting into groove at the right time, Mishra, the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL, told The Hindu on Wednesday.
“Just like batsmen keep analysing my videos, I have been trying to come up with a few variations every season to remain on top. You have to be innovative, especially considering the 360-degree pedigree that more and more batsmen are succeeding in.”
Despite Mishra’s wicket-taking ability being on the wane in the last few seasons, he isn’t too worried about it. “I feel it’s got to do with the fact that batsmen are focussing on saving their wicket against me. If you see, when a wicket-taking bowler’s strike rate starts getting higher, his economy rate tends to go up drastically. But there hasn’t been much difference in my economy rate in the last few years,” he said.
“With batsmen being more watchful against me, wickets haven’t been coming at a rapid pace in the last two-three years but I am not too worried since economy rate is in check. Besides, when I increase the pressure, it results in wickets falling at the other end, so as long as the team benefits, it’s fine.”
The veteran of 19 seasons in domestic seasons, Mishra’s international career has been as topsy-turvy as the Delhi’s team IPL sojourn over the years. He conceded he is far from being satisfied with it, but prefers to focus on taking a rechristened Delhi Capitals all the way in the IPL.
