My bowling, thinking has improved - Mishra

Amit Mishra, who has won a Test recall after four years out, reckons his bowling has improved significantly since his last Test match, against England at The Oval in 2011.

"No doubt I have more experience now," Mishra said, at the end of the second day's play between India A and Australia A at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. "I have more experience of [assessing] how to bowl, how the partnership is going, how the wicket is, which batsman is playing how.

"My bowling has improved along those lines, and my thinking has improved. I feel I have made the improvement I had needed to make."

Mishra felt Sri Lanka would be challenging, both as an opposition and in terms of the conditions India would face.

"It will be a tough tour," he said. "The Sri Lankan players, whoever is there, they are good against spin, and the pitches are good for batting."

In Sri Lanka's last home series, Yasir Shah had picked up 24 wickets in three Tests and paved the way for Pakistan to win 2-1. India's selectors identified this as a reason behind turning to a legspinner, but Mishra himself wasn't looking too deeply into Yasir's performance.

"See, someone [else] performing or not performing doesn't boost my confidence. I have always been confident about my bowling, I am bowling well and performing well, and I have confidence from that. But it is important to go there and adapt quickly to the conditions," he said.

Having played under his captaincy in ODIs, during the Asia Cup in 2014, Mishra looked forward to Virat Kohli's leadership on the Sri Lanka tour.

"He backs all the players, he talks to them, and I feel he will keep doing well in the matches to come. He has always supported me, and I'm sure he will continue supporting me when we go there. That's his nature. He always backs his players."

Mishra is one of three spinners in India's squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka. R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh, the other two, were the first-choice options during India's last Test assignment in Bangladesh. Mishra said he wasn't worried about whether he would get a chance to play or not.

"I'm in the side, so if I get the opportunity, I'll give my best," he said. "I'm not thinking about that. I'm happy I am making a comeback to the Indian side. I will just go there and give my best."