The previous edition of the Ranji Trophy had two sides. First-time champions Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi was the highest wicket-taker, and there were calls to include him in the Test squad. Nabi eventually became part of the India team management’s plans and was picked as injured Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement for the Sri Lanka tour. Nabi made his ODI debut against West Indies, and his wait for the Test cap continues. On the other side, there is Uttarakhand’s left-arm spinner Mayank Mishra. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the previous season. A maiden Test call-up at the age of 36 is rare, but he did not find a place in Duleep Trophy or Irani Cup squads either. The snubs hurt Mishra, and he did not mince his words of disappointment either.
"When I don't find myself anywhere [in Duleep Trophy or other squads] after getting 59 wickets in eight matches... it just made me think that I have to just do the process," Mishra said after stumps on day two.
"I can only do what's in my hands. If getting 59 wickets in a season, you won't get any recognition or you won't get selected for anything, you don't think too much after that. I can't describe it [the disappointment] in words, to be honest."
The Central Zone squad for Duleep Trophy featured the likes of Saransh Jain, Harsh Dubey, and Zeeshan Ansari. Saransh made his Test debut in Sri Lanka as an injured Washington Sundar's replacement, whereas Dubey made his ODI debut against Afghanistan at home. They’ve featured in India A squads as well.
Mishra’s Ranji 2025-26 season numbers
In the previous season, Mishra had taken 59 wickets from eight games compared to Nabi's 60 wickets from 10 games. The left-arm spinner had an average of 17.69. He picked up four five-wicket hauls and four four-fers. The next spinner on the list was Karnataka's Shreyas Gopal with 48 wickets from 10 games.
First-class debut at 28
Mishra would consider himself unlucky. He did not have the same starting line as others. Uttarakhand did not have a Ranji Trophy side until the 2018-19 season. He made his transition from a cricket coach at Nainital's Sherwood College to Ranji Trophy cricketer. The one last try turned fruitful as he made his Ranji Trophy debut as a 28-year-old against Bihar.
"I was a coach in Sherwood College about nine years ago," Mishra said. "Because we didn't have a team [for Uttarakhand] at the time. But after that when we got the affiliation from the BCCI, I wanted to try [becoming a professional cricketer] at least one more time and I succeeded [playing for Uttarakhand]."
While opportunities apart from Uttarakhand are scarce, Mishra has looked for opportunities to play club cricket in England. He has worked on bowling long spells without losing control and continued to add variations.
"Before I used to only bowl a bit quicker through the air," Mishra said. "But since I have been playing in the UK, I also got to learn how to bowl slowly. So, that helps me as well in the domestic circuit. I have been doing well in the UK as well. In the last two seasons, I was the highest wicket-taker in the Premier League in England. So, I just want to get an opportunity wherever I can. I'm ready for that."
Like many left-arm spin-bowling all-rounders in India, Mishra idolises Ravindra Jadeja. Among overseas cricketers, he considers former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori his idol. So far, he has managed to speak with Jadeja during his trip to England.
"Ravindra Jadeja is one of my idols along with Daniel Vettori. I got a chance to speak to Jadeja in England," Mishra recalled.
"I wanted to know how he bowls long spells, how fit he is and how he helps the team both with ball and bat. I want to do the same thing for my team."
Mayank Mishra’s performance in ongoing Ranji season
Mishra’s most recent fifer came against Tamil Nadu in the ongoing Ranji Trophy clash. He got the wickets of Baba Indrajith, Andre Siddarth C, skipper R Sai Kishore, S Ajith Ram and centurion Pradosh Ranjan Paul. He had also contributed with a gritty 114-ball 33. Uttarakhand faced a collapse as they were reduced to 44/6, unable to cope with left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh. He shared a 66-run partnership with Avneesh Sudha for the seventh wicket. Mishra was the last to get out as Uttarakhand were bowled out for 134 in 56.2 overs.
In Uttarakhand's opening game of the season against Railways, he took four wickets. He seems to have worked on his batting. He scored a 155-ball 51, helping Uttarakhand post 470 on the board. This is his first-class career’s third first-class fifty. The match ended in a draw.
"If you have No. 6 and No. 7 who can bat as well...and both are left-arm spinners. In Indian cricket, left-arm spinners are suited to these conditions [especially against right-handers]. So apart from bowling, with batting as well Mishra and Suchith bring a lot of value to our set-up," Uttarakhand head coach Manish Jha said about Mishra and J Suchith's ability to contribute with the bat.
Mishra’s career numbers
Before the ongoing match, Mishra had taken 179 wickets in 42 games at an average of 23.35, including 10 fifers. He has taken 10 or more wickets in a match twice. With the bat, he is improving. From 61 innings, he has managed 646 runs at an average of 12.66, including three fifties.
In List A cricket, he has 38 wickets from 32 games, averaging just over 29, including a four-fer. His economy rate is as low as 4.12 runs per over. From 16 innings with the bat, he has 201 runs at an average of 18.27. His high score is 41 not out. His strike rate is impressive at 103.07.
He has taken 20 wickets in 19 T20 games, averaging nearly 22, including four wickets for just six runs. He is yet to get his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) contract.