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Manoj Tiwary, the renowned cricketer from India and Bengal, bid adieu to his professional cricket career on Sunday, February 18th, amidst the final fixture of the Ranji Trophy 2024 against Bihar. The occasion was marked with heartfelt tributes from his team and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), with former India captain Sourav Ganguly gracing the farewell ceremony to honor Tiwary’s contributions to the sport.
Regrets and reflections on the international stage
In the wake of his retirement, Tiwary candidly shared his reflections on his international cricket journey, expressing regret over certain aspects of his career. Notably, he raised questions about his abrupt exclusion from the national team, particularly after a commendable century against West Indies in Chennai.
Manoj Tiwary raised concerns over MS Dhoni’s decision
Tiwary’s disappointment was palpable as he questioned MS Dhoni and the rationale behind his exclusion from the playing XI in 2011, despite his noteworthy performance. The Bengal cricketer lamented that he possessed the potential to achieve greatness akin to stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli but was denied the opportunity to showcase his capabilities fully.
‘I would like to ask Dhoni why was I dropped from the playing XI in 2011 after scoring the century? I had the potential to be a hero just like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli but could not be. Today, when I see many people getting more opportunities on TV, I feel sad,” said Tiwary in an interview with News18.
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Tiwary’s international career saw him represent India in 12 ODIs, where he amassed 287 runs at an average of 26.09, including a memorable century. Additionally, he featured in three T20Is but fell short of leaving a significant mark in the shortest format of the game.
The Test cap dilemma
Tiwary’s reflections also touched upon his unfulfilled aspiration of donning the Test cap for India. Despite a stellar first-class record, boasting an average of around 65, Tiwary found himself overlooked in favor of other contenders, leaving him disheartened and questioning the selectors’ decisions.
“I did not get the Test cap for India. When I had completed playing 65 first-class matches, my batting average was around 65. The Australia team had toured India then, and I had scored 130 in a friendly game, then I scored 93 against England in a friendly game. I was very close, but they picked Yuvraj Singh instead. So not getting a Test cap and dropping me for 14 matches after I scored a century…when confidence is at its peak and someone destroys that, it tends to kill that player,” added Tiwary.
