Daredevil Mishra hopes to follow Vettori’s footsteps

“Frankly speaking I was hoping that I would make it in one of the teams but I had no idea that it could be Delhi. Even my parents were pining hopes on my selection but even they were taken off guard by a call from Delhi. I am really happy that I will get to play for my state’s franchise,” says Mishra who made his first class debut last year and played four matches.

Interestingly,so far Mishra is the lone left arm spinner picked in the squad since New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori is no more a part of the Daredevils and has been bought by Royal Challengers this year. With Vettori missing from the Delhi bowling attack,Mishra is hopeful of making it to the final eleven in a few games. Though he knows that replacing the New Zealand great would not be a routine task but for him the whole tournament will be a learning experience.

“It is motivating as well as a pressurising factor. But I feel it is my learning phase. I am keen to pick bowling nuances to become better at my job,” adds the lean and lanky left arm spinner. Although he would miss the opportunity to share the dressing room with Vettori,he has plans to seek some advice from Vettori during his team’s match against Bangalore. “To meet him is on top of my ‘to do’ list. I am sure he will be a sport and will give me some tips,” he says.

For Mishra,featuring in the T20 tournament will be a challenge. Although he has experience in first class cricket but he feels lack of match practice from the T20 format has left him with a tough task to prove his mettle on the big stage. In the recently concluded T20 first class tournament,Mishra couldn’t make the cut. “I personally don’t like to play much T20 cricket but this isn’t an excuse. I am practising hard with my coach and working on skills,” explains Mishra.

Having been a member of the Delhi Ranji side for two years now,meeting Viru Paji is his biggest desire. He says that he had the opportunity to bowl to the Indian opener in the nets last year but he hasn’t had the chance to talk to Sehwag.

But this is one desire that will definitely get fulfilled under Virender Sehwag’s captaincy. If he gets a chance to play against the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar that will be another highlight of his career,he says with a chuckle.

“I know there is hardly any time left for IPL but right now my aim is to perform well in the Ranji one dayers. Likewise I am bowling a lot with the Kookaburra ball which is a slight problem as it has a different seam. I believe my routine drills,Duleep Trophy along with these ODI’s will help me get familiar with the ball. I will give the tournament my best,” says Mishra.