'He is someone who knows his bowling, knows his variations and knows where to pitch the ball'
India skipper Virat Kohli lauds his third spinner, who made most of the little opportunity he got in the third Test against South Africa. Harish Kotian/Rediff.com listens.
The success of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja meant the third spinner did not enjoy his share of the bowling in the third Test against South Africa.
Yet, veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra did well to make the best of the little opportunity he got.
In the first innings, when South Africa were bundled out for 79, Ashwin and Jadeja bowled a total of 28.1 overs between themselves, returning figures of 5 for 32 and 4 for 33 respectively. Mishra got just three overs and accounted for the well-set J P Duminy, trapping him leg before wicket for 35.
- Images from the third Test, Day 3
He then made an impact in South Africa’s second innings, breaking a crucial partnership between Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, who had frustrated the Indians for nearly over hours, putting on 72 runs from 281 balls for the fifth wicket.
He claimed the wickets of Amla (39) and du Plessis (39) in successive overs which all but ended the slim hopes the South Africa may have harboured on Friday, Day 3 of the Test.
While Ashwin finished with 7 for 66 in the second innings, Mishra made his presence felt with figures of three for 51 in 20 overs, his wickets coming at crucial junctures.
India captain Virat Kohli acknowledged Mishra’s efforts, which took a backseat following Ashwin’s superb showing in both innings.
“Mishra is getting us those crucial breakthroughs; he has been very important for us as a bowling unit. He showed that in Sri Lanka as well, bowled really well in his comeback series and has gained a lot of confidence from that,” said Kohli, after India won the Test by 124 runs on Day 3 in Nagpur.
“Amit Mishra, for a leg-spinner, is very economical, which is not a regular sight. He is someone who knows his bowling, knows his variations and knows where to pitch the ball,” he added.
Mishra, 33, did not quite enjoy the backing of the previous captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, under whom he played 13 Tests in three years since making his debut in 2008.
Kohli, however, has shown faith in his abilities. Under him the leg-spinner has already featured in five Tests in four months.
He revealed how Mishra came up to him when the Amla-du Plessis partnership was going strong and assured him that he would effect the breakthrough.
“Today, when the partnership was going on, he actually held the ball and told me that ‘I will get a wicket’ and in about three overs he got Hashim out. He persisted with it; he knew that he would get a wicket if he bowled in the right areas. He was feeling confident and that, as a captain, is a pleasing thing to hear -- a bowler wanting to take the ball and saying I will get you a wicket.
“Credit to him for getting us the breakthrough and then getting du Plessis out as well; that just opened the gate for us beautifully.”
Ashwin was India’s star bowler, claiming five wickets in both innings, with figures of 5-32 and 7-66.
Kohli pointed out that the bowler now relies more on his traditional off-spinners.
“He has always been a quality bowler and, as I said earlier, has become more consistent with his stock ball, which is flighting the ball and getting more results.
“He is not trying too much; you hardly see the carrom ball coming in and that’s the sign of confidence for any spinner when he is relying on his natural delivery to deceive the batsmen with changes of pace.
“I think that’s what he is relying on and that’s something that has changed him. That’s made him stronger as a bowler and he is winning games for us consistently which is a great thing for us, because getting the taste of that winning habit is one thing but holding on to it is quite another.”
Kohli expressed delight to have the services of three wicket-taking spinners on pitches offering turn and bounce.
“Well, it’s a big plus… Two out of the three guys are very consistent. It’s a delight to have all three in the squad. All three bowling well in Indian conditions is obviously an advantage (for India) and a threat for the opposition. So I am really happy all three are in rhythm and I am really happy for Jadeja, because he is making a comeback.
"The way he has bowled, the way he has looked confident with the bat as well. It shows that if you go back to first-class cricket and you work hard to come up the right way again, things do fall in place. I am really happy for all three of them; they are really doing well and I hope they continue the same way.”
India is scheduled to play around 12 Tests at home in the 2016-17 season and Kohli claimed that the experience of playing on spin-friendly tracks is a good step towards getting a settled team combination for the future.
“When we collapsed in Galle someone was saying that we have improved our fast bowling play but we don’t know how to play spin. Now we are playing on spin-friendly wickets and this is the problem as well. I don’t know where we find the balance.
“We, as a team, feel we have to improve our play against spin as well. These are the conditions we get in the sub-continent and we have to play lots of Test matches in future as well. So, as a team, this is a learning phase as well for us. We need to step up our game in order to win Test matches like we have done this time.”