Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has reignited a debate over alleged favoritism during MS Dhoni’s tenure as captain. Tiwary, who scored his maiden ODI century against West Indies in Chennai in 2011, revealed that he was dropped from the playing XI for 14 consecutive matches despite his performance. He alleged that players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suresh Raina retained their places in the team despite poor form, questioning the decision-making under Dhoni’s leadership.
Tiwary’s ODI Century and Subsequent Snub
Manoj Tiwary’s career had its highs and lows. Despite averaging 99.50 in the 2006–07 Ranji Trophy, his international debut was delayed due to injuries. After a lackluster debut in 2008, Tiwary achieved a milestone by scoring his only international century in December 2011 against West Indies. However, he was benched for the next six months and 14 matches, leaving him frustrated.
“After scoring a century, I was praised, but I didn’t know why I was dropped. Back then, players were afraid to question decisions as it could impact their careers,” Tiwary told Lallantop in an interview.
Allegations of Favoritism
Tiwary alleged that during the same period, Kohli, Rohit, and Raina were struggling for form but continued to find a place in the XI. “Despite not scoring runs, these players were persisted with. I, after winning the Player of the Match award, couldn’t find a spot in the team,” he said.
He attributed this disparity to the captain’s authority, stating that Indian cricket during Dhoni’s time operated largely under the skipper’s discretion.
“Team India runs according to the planning of the captain. This was true during the tenures of Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Mohammad Azharuddin, and Sourav Ganguly. Unless a strict administrator enforces set rules, this will continue,” Tiwary remarked.
Struggles and Retirement Thoughts
Tiwary admitted that the snub left him disheartened, and he even contemplated retiring from cricket. However, he decided to continue playing due to his family responsibilities. “A dropped player at that time didn’t get enough practice or opportunities to return. It was demotivating,” he added.
Current Role in Politics
Manoj Tiwary, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2023, is now the Minister of State for Affairs of Sports and Youth in West Bengal under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government.
