He gives the brand new ball a big rip between his fingers just as he starts his run-up, a bubbling side-on approach that preludes a big pivot on the delivery stride, and lets off a classic leg-break that Gautam Gambhir tackles with a dead willow — these days, Amit Mishra and his good friend are busy preparing for the forthcoming England Test series, and the excitement at the Bharat Nagar Cricket Academy in West Delhi, is palpable.

Mishra is a man on a mission — he’s out to get the new ball to turn — “If I am able to do so, then when I get to bowl with the semi-new ball, I can extract greater turn during matches,” he reasons.

His responsibilities as an Indian team regular have certainly brought in a few changes and experiments, but beyond the seven-wicket Test debutant and an IPL hat-trick hero is the untold story of a 26-year old realising his dream, fulfilling his commitments and living his greatest moment — everything that originated on the cricket field but seeped into his social obligations.

From the day he requested his coach Sanjay Bharadwaj for that elusive hardbound school games certificate that entitles him to a Class IV employee’s job with the Railways to being the latest rage within Team India, the leg-spinner has always measured success by his ability to improve the standard of living for his family.

“I owe everything to cricket. I have been able to realise my dreams and fulfill my commitments only because cricket made me financially stronger,” he says.

... contd.