'If you have a problem in India, leave' - Amit Mishra breaks silence on controversial exchange with Irfan Pathan

Former India spinner Amit Mishra has opened up about his online war of words with his ex-India teammate Irfan Pathan. The incident had taken place in 2022.

It all started when Irfan Pathan took to X (then Twitter) to post a cryptic message on the condition of the political situation in India. The former India allrounder had written: "My country, my beautiful country, has the potential to be the greatest country on earth.BUT."

While Pathan did not reveal the reason behind the post, many believed that it was related to the tension between the two major religious communities of the country. Pathan's post had come following a number of communal violence across the country.

Amit Mishra noticed the post and was quick to reply to it. Hitting back at Pathan, he had written: "My country, my beautiful country, has the potential to be the greatest country on earth…..only if some people realise that our constitution is the first book to be followed."

Later, Pathan had hit back at his former India teammate by posting a copy of the preamble of the Indian Constitution and writing: "Always followed this and I urge each citizen of our beautiful country to follow this. Please read and re-read..."

My country, my beautiful country, has the potential to be the greatest country on earth.BUT………

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 21, 2022

My country, my beautiful country, has the potential to be the greatest country on earth…..only if some people realise that our constitution is the first book to be followed.

— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) April 22, 2022

Amit Mishra was recently asked about the controversy when he appeared on Shubhankar Mishra podcast. Recalling the incident, the spinner said that he still stands by his statement, saying: "It was the first book to be followed. Yes, that's right. Although I received a lot of abuses, I also received a lot of love, much more than those abuses."

"But I spoke from the heart. If you follow the rules in ten other countries you visit, why not in India? India is also a country with rules and regulations; follow them. What's the problem? If you have a problem, leave," he added.

Amit Mishra on meeting with Irfan Pathan:

Amit Mishra revealed that did meet Irfan Pathan after the controversy during his commentary stints and shook hands with him as well. When the host asked whether there was any warmth in the meeting, the veteran spinner indirectly made it clear that he had never been on good terms with Irfan Pathan.

"I used to shake hands with him. I never hugged him. I maintain my distance. I keep relationships as they are. I love my close friends. The ones who are commercial, are commercial. The close ones are close," said Amit Mishra.

Both Mishra and Pathan played a number of times for Team India together. Mishra played 22 Tests, 36 ODIs, and 10 T20Is for India while Pathan played 29 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 24 T20Is for the national team. As of now, Pathan has retired from the game while Mishra played in this year's IPL. Both the former India cricketers have also been plying their trades as commentators.