Veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra on Thursday brought the curtains down to his illustrious playing career, spanning over 25 years. Mishra, 42, played all forms of international cricket from 2003 to 2017 and finished with 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is. His last appearance in a competitive fixture came for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2024.
In a statement on Thursday, Mishra said his decision to retire from professional cricket was influenced by recurring injuries and the belief of giving the next generation of cricketers ample opportunities to shine on the big stage.
“Today, after 25 years, I announce my retirement from cricket — a game that has been my first love, my teacher, and my greatest source of joy. This journey has been filled with countless emotions — moments of pride, hardship, learning, and love. I am deeply grateful to the BCCI, Haryana Cricket Association, my coaches, support staff, colleagues, and most importantly, the fans, whose faith and support gave me strength at every step,” Mishra said.
Mishra made his international debut in 2003 in an ODI against South Africa in Dhaka, but the presence of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble in the Test line-up, meant he had to wait until 2008 to make his red-ball debut against Australia in Mohali, when Kumble was ruled out with an injury. He capped off a memorable debut by clinching a five-wicket haul, but was unfortunate to never get a longer run in any format.
“From the struggles and sacrifices in the early days to the unforgettable moments on the field, every chapter has been an experience that has shaped me as a cricketer and as a person,” he continued in the statement.
Mishra started his career with Haryana on the domestic circuit and made his first-class debut in 2000-01. His classical legbreaks coupled with an effective googly made him a lethal proposition against the best of opposition batters.
In 2013, he also equalled Javagal Srinath’s world record for the most wickets in a bilateral ODI series with 18 wickets in the five-game series in Zimbabwe. He also played in the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, picking 10 wickets at an average of 14.70 and economy rate of 6.68, as India finished runners-up to Sri Lanka.
After his last game for India came in 2017, Mishra continued to play domestic cricket and IPL. His final competitive cricket game was Lucknow Super Giants’ clash against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024, where he picked figures of 1-20.
“To my family — thank you for standing firmly by my side through the highs and lows. To my teammates and mentors — thank you for making this journey so special,” he said.
Mishra finishes with 535 wickets in 152 first-class matches, 252 wickets in 152 List A games, and 285 wickets in 259 T20s. He also scored a double-century in first-class cricket – an unbeaten 202 against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy in December 2012.
In the IPL, Mishra ends up as the seventh highest wicket-taker with 174 scalps from 162 games at an average of 23.82. He also holds the record for being the only bowler to pick three hat-tricks in IPL history. All his hat-tricks came for three different teams: Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2008, for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2011, and for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013.
Looking ahead, Mishra expressed he intends to stay involved in the game through coaching, commentary and mentoring young cricketers, as well as regularly interact with fans through social media platforms.
“As I close this chapter, my heart is full of gratitude and love. Cricket has given me everything, and now, I look forward to giving back to the game that made me who I am,” he concluded.