Virat Kohli Assured Me "Get Fit, You're There", Then No Reply: Retired India Star Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra accused Virat Kohli of not fulfilling promise© X (Twitter) | Getty

Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra's international career ended on a sour note. The T20I against England in 2017 turned out to be his final game for India, but Mishra feels that if it were not for an injury he sustained in that match, he might have gone on to play more for the national team. Crucially, Mishra claimed that he was given explicit comeback assurances by both the then head coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli. However, when he regained full fitness, the latter did not even respond to his calls and messages.

Mishra made the revelation during an episode of the podcast Baith & Bol with former India cricketer Aakash Chopra. He claimed that the assurances from both Kumble and Kohli fell flat, with the England match in Bengaluru turning out to be his final game for India in international cricket.

"I got my leg injured during that time in Bangalore. And when I was leaving after getting injured, Anil Kumble was the coach. So I told Anil Bhai, I said, 'Anil Bhai...'. He said, 'Don't worry. As soon as you get fit, you automatically... you will come back,'" Mishra claimed during the podcast.

"Then, Virat Kohli became the captain after this. I also asked Virat Kohli, I said, 'Brother, what needs to be done?' He said, 'You don't worry. Get fully fit and comfortable, and you are there [in the team],'" he added.

Once Mishra had recovered, he messaged Kohli to ask about the situation regarding his return to the national team. The veteran leg-spinner claimed that Kohli promised to get back to him within seven to ten days but never responded.

"So, I went to him. I asked, 'Brother, what's the situation?' So he said, 'I will let you know in a week to ten days.' Then brother, one week passed, two weeks passed, three weeks passed, there was absolutely no update from him. I called him... so, he did not pick up the call. I messaged him, but there was no reply," Mishra said, accusing Kohli of failing to keep his promise.

Virat Kohli did not fulfill his promise - Amit Mishra Baith & Bol Ep 009 is releasing today 6 P.M. on Youtube. Facebook. Spotify #Baithandbol #AmitMishra #Cricket https://t.co/ndE4zjIVIu

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 23, 2026

Mishra also pointed out that other players, who had been out of action with injuries for far longer periods, were accommodated back into the squad immediately upon regaining fitness. However, that protocol was not followed in his case.

"I called again, he did not answer. I called twice more, still nothing... so I also let it go. Then I thought, 'Brother, what can we do?' When someone does not want you, what can you do? When players who got more severely injured than you, and were injured for much longer, made their comebacks... yet, I have never received any answer to this day."

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