‘Cricket made me financially secure’

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...

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.

Story continues below this ad

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.

Simple desires

“I have seen life in a one-bedroom flat with four brothers and three sisters sharing space. There were times I used to go for practice without money to even buy a bus ticket. I have seen my brothers and parents struggle to make ends meet. All that made me more determined, it made me sweat extra hours because I knew if I made it big in cricket, I could fulfill my responsibility towards my family. Today, I am happy I could give my family accha mahaul rehne ke liye (a good life),” he says.

“Playing a Test match was a dream come true but honestly, my biggest achievement has been the fact that I could get two of my sisters married off in a grand manner, we have moved out of that one-bedroom flat to two rented floors in Patel Nagar and my new flat is nearing completion,” he says, his satisfaction reflected in his boyish smile.

Story continues below this ad

And all though this while, Gambhir has been with him, as has been his coach, the Haryana Cricket Association and its chief Ranbir Singh Mahendra.

“These people are the pillars of my life. Even during my time in wilderness, they kept telling me I was good and it was only a matter of time before I made it to the Indian team,” he says.

Facing the odds

On the field too, Mishra has seen several ups and downs — he broke into the one-day team early in 2003, then did rounds of domestic cricket and fought off a shoulder surgery to earn a Test call-up five years hence. He made a marvellous Test debut, then saw a near drought in his second Test.

“That’s part and parcel of life. I did bowl well in my second Test in Delhi but didn’t get wickets, a couple of chances went waste and the Aussies played safe with me. What’s important is to make the batsmen struggle against you. The wickets will trickle in,” he says, matter-of-factly.