'When you get that backing from the captain, you stay confident'

Amit Mishra was praised by Virat Kohli as one of the batsmen who provided resistance in India's second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka, which the tourists lost by 63 runs.

The bowler says his captain's support gave him a lot of confidence. 

"Virat always compliments my bowling and supports me. In the same way, when it came to batting, he told me to play my natural game and play positively. I batted that way, like I normally do, the way I know.

"When you get that backing from the captain, you stay confident, always.

"Plus, that's the idea of five bowlers... that they should also get runs in the lower order and put pressure on the opposition. We are batting well in the nets," said Mishra.

Asked about the three-spinners' formula, Mishra replied: "We talk a lot among ourselves, (Ravichandran) Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh and also with the coaches. I enjoy bowling with them as they are both very experienced bowlers.

"We discuss at all times about what pace we should bowl at and which batsman is weak against what delivery. We discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and where we should bowl at them.

"Depending on the conditions and slow wickets here (Sri Lanka), we keep talking to each other. We support each other well. There isn't much pressure that there are three spinners, but there is a healthy discussion between us about how to bowl. The attempt is to take as many wickets as possible," he explained.

"We bowl in short spells because the thinking is we must not let the batsmen settle. The idea is that a four or five-over spell is good to confuse the batsmen and keep changing the bowlers after that, so that he doesn't get comfortable."

Having made a comeback to India team in Galle after a four-year gap, Mishra said hard work in domestic cricket finally paid off.

"Yes, I was a bit anxious in Galle because I was playing after four years. There was a little bit of pressure but I knew I had worked very hard on my bowling. All the players in the team were supporting me, especially Virat. After each ball, he was supporting and so were the coaches.

"Everyone gave me so much confidence that I didn't feel I was playing after four years. I think I bowled well in that match. Now I will work on the feedback I have got from the last match and hopefully in the second Test, I will bowl better."

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