One big difference this time, however, is that Mishra is fresh in public memory after his Indian Premier League success. When he signed for the Delhi Daredevils, he wasn’t seen as someone who would play a big role in the franchise’s success. But Mishra proved to be a dark horse and then carried his IPL form to India A’s tour of Australia for the Emerging Players’ Tournament, in which he was the highest wicket-taker.

Ask him if he is scared to dream big after his short-lived stint with the Indian ODI team, and he says: “I remember that after my debut against South Africa, everybody was praising me. Even Sunil Gavaskar said that we’ve found Anil Kumble’s successor,” he says. But things didn’t go as planned or predicted. “I really don’t know how things changed so suddenly. Everything was going fine but there was a sudden twist in my career.”

To make things worse, Mishra sustained an injury that shattered him. “I thought of quitting cricket. I’d had enough.” ‘A’ team players often have to deal with such uncertainty, and Mishra isn’t the only hopeful in the fray as a strong India A side take on Australia A at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

The Indians look strong on paper, especially since they have international players such as S Badrinath, Parthiv Patel, Virat Kohli and Mohammad Kaif in the line-up.

The likely absence of Sreesanth, who might sit out with a stiff back could be crucial.

“If you look at the list, India A side looks strong. Half of their side has international experience,” Simon Katich says. “But don’t count us out,” added the Australia A skipper.

... contd.