Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra has retired from professional cricket. He made the announcement at the age of 42 after not playing any competitive game for more than 16 months. His career lasted almost 25 years.
Mishra last played in the 2024 Indian Premier League for Lucknow Super Giants. His final match was against Rajasthan Royals midway through the season. He did not feature in the 2025 edition. Mishra remains one of the most successful spinners in the league. He is the only bowler to take three hat-tricks in the tournament.
In the IPL, he also played for Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Mishra represented India in 22 Tests and picked up 76 wickets. He made his debut in 2008 during Anil Kumble’s final series against Australia. He impressed in Mohali with a five-wicket haul and took 14 wickets in three Tests. But his chances were limited as India already had Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
He was known for his attacking leg-spin, flight, and a strong leg-break with the occasional googly. However, his lack of consistency on flat pitches and outside the subcontinent worked against him. When Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja rose to prominence, Mishra’s role became smaller. He still enjoyed success on the 2015 tour of Sri Lanka, taking 15 wickets in three Tests. His last Test came against England in Chennai in 2016.
Mishra also played 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is for India. He was part of the 2013 Champions Trophy-winning squad in England. He played a key role in the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh, where India finished runners-up to Sri Lanka.
In domestic cricket, Mishra was a mainstay for Haryana since his debut in 2001-02. He claimed 535 wickets in 152 first-class games, with his last match in 2017.
“These 25 years of my life in cricket have been nothing short of memorable. I am deeply grateful to the BCCI, the administration, Haryana cricket association, the support staff, my colleagues, and to my family members who were with me all this while,” Mishra said in a press release.
“I would like to thank the fans whose love and support whenever and wherever I played made the journey memorable. Cricket has given me countless memories and invaluable learnings, and each moment on the ground has been a memory I’ll treasure for life.”
