Record-breaking Mishra focuses on reinventing himself

Amit Mishra, who is the first spinner to claim 150 wickets in IPL history, is far from being satisfied with his international career.

The veteran of 19 seasons in the domestic circuit, Mishra’s international career has been as topsy-turvy as the Delhi’s team IPL sojourn over the years.

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 Play-offs but also because the veteran leggie has become 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 the groove at the right time," Mishra, the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL, told Sportstar on Thursday.

Mishra in IPL For Delhi Daredevils & Delhi Capitals (2008-10 & 2015 till date) Matches: 87; Wickets: 90; Average: 24.74; Economy rate: 7.47 For Deccan Chargers (2011-12) Matches: 28; Wickets: 32; Average: 22.96; Economy rate: 7.32 For Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013-14) Matches: 27; Wickets: 28; Average: 26.21; Economy rate: 7.37 With 90 wickets in 87 matches , Amit Mishra is the only bowler to have picked 50-plus wickets in IPL for the Delhi franchise. The next best for Delhi is Morne Morkel with 45 wickets in 37 games. Mishra with 150 wickets is the second in all-time highest wicket-takers in IPL, after Lasith Malinga (162).

“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 focusing 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.

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“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 the 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 the domestic circuit, 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.