It’s been 16 years since Manoj Tiwary made his debut for India, and though he recently retired from all forms of Indian cricket, the lingering pain of not being given an extended run at the international level still haunts him. Tiwary’s ODI debut came in 2008, but it took another three years before he got a second opportunity. When he finally did, he made the most of it, scoring a century in just the sixth ODI of his career.
Unfortunately, that brilliant knock wasn’t enough to secure him a consistent place in the team. Despite his century, Tiwary was dropped, and he missed the next 14 matches under MS Dhoni’s leadership. In July 2012, Tiwary returned to the ODI side for a series against Sri Lanka in Colombo. He impressed with the ball, taking four wickets, and followed that up with a half-century.
However, a series of low scores in his next few innings saw him fall off the radar again. His international career, spanning from 2008 to 2015, consisted of just 12 ODIs and three T20Is, leaving many wondering what could have been if he had been given more opportunities.
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During an interview with Cricket Addictor, Manoj Tiwary spoke about the impact of being dropped despite performing well. He admitted that the decision shattered his confidence, saying, “It’s all in the past, but yeah, I do feel sad. I would be lying if I said otherwise. Crushing a player’s confidence when he’s at his peak does impact his mindset.”
Manoj Tiwary opens up about his controversial dropping from the Indian cricket team after scoring a century in 2011. He indirectly criticizes MS Dhoni’s decision, expressing disappointment and the negative impact on his confidence. #Cricket #IndianCricket pic.twitter.com/XFSvvyJhZG
— Maverick (@maverickrayz) October 24, 2024
Earlier this year, Monoj Tiwary expressed his frustration about the lack of opportunities, particularly after his century in 2011. He mentioned that he still hopes to ask MS Dhoni why he was dropped despite his strong performance.
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“I had the potential to be a hero like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, but I wasn’t given the chance. When I see others getting more opportunities, it does hurt,” Monoj Tiwary confessed.
Though his career didn’t pan out as he had hoped, Tiwary’s talent and passion for the game remain undeniable.
