Amit Mishra reveals 18-month depression after India debut
Mishra said he spent 18 months in depression with no support network after his India debut before returning through consistent domestic performances.
Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra said he battled depression for a year and a half after being dropped from the national team following his ODI debut in 2003. He told commentator Aakash Chopra that he had no one to confide in during the period and could not share his struggles with his family.
Mishra was also excluded from the Duleep Trophy and India A zonal teams while his domestic form suffered. A selector later told him he was focusing on an India return rather than consistent performances at domestic level, prompting a change in approach.
Mishra worked on his batting as advised and returned to the India side in October 2008. He went on to play 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is for the country.
CricHubb Take
Mishra's account shows that the mental-health gap between selection and deselection still exists for domestic players who lack family buffers, a structural issue unchanged since 2003.