Akash Mishra speaks to AIFF Media about his time with the National Team and more…

In the last nine matches the Indian senior men’s team have played, Akash Mishra has not been on the pitch for only 12 minutes. Such has been his rise over the past few seasons that the 21-year-old has become India’s best option at left-back. Head coach Igor Stimac and his trust in him has played a big role in his ascent, according to Mishra.

“I think it’s a huge factor and very important for a player, especially a youngster like me, in his career when the coach trusts him to get the job done. And when that happens, even an average player becomes a great one because that gives him confidence, and he keeps pushing himself to improve every day,” says Mishra.

Born in Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh, Mishra debuted as a 19-year-old for the Blue Tigers in March 2021 in a 1-1 draw against Oman in a friendly. He is still the youngest player in the current camp in Bhubaneswar for the Hero Intercontinental Cup and the subsequent SAFF Championship in Bengaluru. With what Mishra has achieved at a young age, it’s easy to get carried away, but he is well aware that there’s a long way to go in his career. And for his career to be fruitful, his feet have to be on the ground.

Read the full interview on the AIFF website