Akhil Rawat
AIFF Media Team

BENGALURU: In the period between March 2022 and March 2024, the Indian senior men's team played 29 matches. Akash Mishra featured in 24 of them, playing the full 90 minutes in 17 of them. There cannot be sterner evidence that demonstrates the Blue Tigers' reliance on him at left-back. Commendably, that stretch of games started when he was just 20 years old.

But the national team had to learn to live without Mishra's bombing runs down the left flank for the past year and a half. While playing for Mumbai City FC in the ISL playoffs in April 2024, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that required surgery and ruled him out of action for 18 months.

"You’re playing regularly, and suddenly you get injured. Injuries are part of football because it’s such a physical sport, but then injuries like these keep you out for one and a half years. That’s really difficult," Mishra told the-aiff.com during the national camp in Bengaluru ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier in Bangladesh.

But, undeniably, the mental impact extends way deeper than the physical pain for an injury like this.

"Physically, surgery is tough. When a body part is opened up, it’s never exactly the same again. But mentally, it’s even tougher. You’ve been away from the pitch for so long, and doubts creep in. 'Will I come back? How will I come back?' And because you were performing at a certain level before the injury, people expect you to return at that same level. That creates pressure, too," said the 23-year-old.

After months of rehabilitation, spending hours with the medical team every day, speaking to family, friends, senior players who had undergone ACL surgeries in the past, and, of course, supporting his Blue Tigers teammates from home, Mishra returned to on-pitch training during the back end of last season. Although he was named in the squad for the Super Cup that was held in April this year, he remained on the bench. That may not have been to his liking then, but now he admitted it was the right decision.

"The Super Cup was an important step. I have to give a lot of credit to Mumbai City FC. At one point, I was feeling physically fit and eager to play. I kept telling the coaches and medical team that I was ready. But the club decided not to rush it. They didn’t want to put me in for one or two matches and risk something. They wanted me to return only when I was fully ready.

"At the time, I didn’t like it, because I love playing football, but later I understood why. The temperament of the game is different. First, I trained with the physiotherapist, then I moved to strength and conditioning work, and then gradually joined team training in a modified way. By then, the season was almost over. The entire 2024-25 season became a rehab season for me. After such a big injury, returning step by step is very important. Players often feel like rushing back, but with time you understand that you have to respect the process the medical team and coaches have set."

When he was finally back in the national camp in August, it felt as good as the first call-up for the then-teenager Mishra in 2021.

"I can’t even explain the feeling of wearing the Indian training kit again. I felt great. I played regularly for India, and suddenly, for a year and a half, I wasn’t there. When I came back and met coach Khalid, it was emotional. I think for any athlete, once you choose sports as your path, representing the country is the biggest stage you can reach. It’s always a proud moment to get a national team call-up," he said.

But he didn't make the final cut for the CAFA Nations Cup squad. He had yet to play a minute of competitive football since his return from injury. The AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 was a golden chance, and when it arrived, he grabbed it with both hands, playing every single minute and helping Mumbai City qualify for the semi-finals. The day after the last game, he was on a flight to Bengaluru to join the national camp again. The Blue Tigers are preparing for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round fixture against Bangladesh, and will depart for Dhaka on Saturday, November 15.

"I played three matches in the Super Cup. Whatever time I get in training or matches, I want to use it to build myself back, regain form, and return to my level. I know I can’t reach that level in just one match, but my teammates and coaches are helping me get there, and I’m working very hard," he said.

Mishra claimed that the injury lay-off, and the lengthy rehabilitation did not just change his body, but changed him as a person too. 'Coming back stronger' wasn't mere words, but became a motto.

"This season, I worked extremely hard in the off-season at home in Delhi. That off-season work really helped me when I entered pre-season. Mental well-being is crucial for any player recovering from a long injury that takes so long. There are so many people I want to thank. My father, mother, sister, teammates, and coaches. And of course, the medical team. During that long injury period, I wasn’t with the coaches and players as much; I was mostly with the medical staff, rehabbing with them every day.

"And when you're down mentally, suddenly getting messages from people really lifts you. Many senior players personally messaged me, encouraged me, and shared their experiences. Some of them had already gone through the same injuries. Listening to them and then watching them return to play gave me confidence. I felt, 'if they can do it, and they’re advising me, then why can’t I do it too?"

And Mishra did it. Back to full fitness, gradually picking up rhythm on the pitch, getting minutes under the belt domestically, earning the call-up again, and now potentially set for a kind of second debut against Bangladesh next Tuesday.

Perhaps he'll take a little more time warming up. And he explained why.

"To be honest, before the injury, I didn’t pay much attention to warm-ups, cool-downs, stretching, mobility; I just wanted to be on the ball soon. But after surgery, your body changes. You realise the importance of all these things. They are extremely important. After the injury, I can say I’ve become a much better athlete, and in many ways, a better human being too," Mishra concluded.