Manoj Tiwary credits Virender Sehwag, continues tirade against MS Dhoni
Among all cricket-playing nations, India arguably boasts one of the best bench strengths across formats. The legacy of producing a rich crop of players is not new to the Indian cricket set-up. However, the surplus of talent available for each spot in the national team often creates significant challenges. For every cricketer selected in the Indian side, another deserving candidate sees his chances drying up. Over the years, India has witnessed many skilled players falling out of the loop and failing to realise their full potential. Former batsman Manoj Tiwary happens to be one of them. Unlike many others, however, Tiwary often laments his lost opportunities, frequently taking aim at former India captain MS Dhoni for allegedly sabotaging his career.
Manoj Tiwary takes aim at MS Dhoni again; lauds Virender Sehwag for his sacrifice
Manoj Tiwary entered the international arena laden with high expectations, yet his stint with the Indian team never truly took off. Across seven years, he managed to play only 12 ODIs and three T20Is. Even the limited chances were scattered and inconsistent, leaving him constantly on the fringes. Tiwary's career is often summed up by the cruel twist of being dropped immediately after scoring a century. Meanwhile, Tiwary, who often terms MS Dhoni the culprit for his shortened career, recently credited Virender Sehwag for sacrificing his spot to accommodate Tiwary in the combination.
Tiwary’s introduction to international cricket was anything but smooth. His first five innings produced meagre scores as he struggled to leave any lasting impression. However, just when it seemed like his chances were dwindling, Virender Sehwag stepped in. December 2011 became a turning point as Sehwag smashed a record 219 against the West Indies in Indore. But in the very next game, he showcased his selfless side by giving Manoj Tiwary the opportunity that would change the latter’s career narrative.
"I've got backing from Virender Sehwag. I've always said that Viru paaji is one of the individuals who has really backed me. In fact, the century that has come in the West Indies game where I got Man of the Match. He's the one who sacrificed his place, and he took rest before the game. And everyone knows that in that series, where Sehwag scored a double-hundred. So he would have loved to continue and score more runs. But he's such a good human being that he was observing my career in the Indian team for so many years. So he must have felt a little injustice was happening to me," Tiwary said recently.
Reflecting on those times, Manoj Tiwary acknowledged that Sehwag wasn’t the only senior who encouraged him. But in contrast, he often lamented that MS Dhoni, then captain, did not place similar trust in him. To his mind, Dhoni’s reluctance deprived him of more chances to prove himself. Admittedly, the years between 2008 and 2012 were marked by an abundance of batting talent with aspiring youngsters waiting for their break. Still, Tiwary maintained that Dhoni’s word carried the most weight. Once the captain’s mind was made up, there was little room for second opinions.
"Sachin Paji as well, Yuvraj Singh as well, Harbhajan Singh as well. A lot of seniors have back me during that time, but they have limited control over the decision-making. At that time, the only decision-maker was MS Dhoni, and also the foreign coaches who come up, they just go with the captain because nobody wants to go to war with the Indian captain because their jobs are on the line. Because if a captain complains to the BCCI or shows disagreements over a few things, then the blood is always on the neck of the coaches," Tiwary explained.
