Manoj Tiwary
Manoj Tiwary, with his aggressive approach to the game, is not far away from wearing national colours.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Mr. Hard Line - 'Chota Dada'
Attributes: Right hand middle-order batsman and right arm leg-break bowler
Manoj Tiwary represents an aggressive and fearless Indian youth. Within only two seasons of domestic cricket behind him, the right-handed batsman from Bengal has made a big impact at the national level. Tiwary is known for his dashing and flamboyant approach in the higher middle-order.
He idolises England’s swashbuckling batsman Kevin Pietersen, and not surprisingly the Bengal player believes in replicating his hero’s theory of charging the fast bowlers, in order to enforce a change in length. Tiwary’s on-field mannerisms, like pulling the sleeve up to the shoulders while taking strike for the next ball reflects shades of the English contemporary great. Tiwary, nicknamed ‘Chhota Dada’ (in reference to local hero Sourav Ganguly) is touted to represent the national squad in next to no time.
The 21-year old made his Ranji debut in 2005, but talks about the Bengal sensation started during his India U-19 days. Manoj captained the team in a one-day series and was also the vice-captain in the Test series. India was successful in emerging triumphant in both.
His success in the India youth team helped him earn a Ranji call for Bengal in 2004-05 season. After being sidetracked for the first full season, the Bengal dasher cemented a certain No. 4 position in his 2005-06 stint. It took only 14 games for the flamboyant right-hander to pile over 1000 runs in first-class cricket, which is a terrific achievement by any standard.
Prolific 2007
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The 2006-07 domestic season witnessed Manoj Tiwary at his very best. He was in outstanding form throughout the year. Tiwary missed the chance to become the Don Bradman of Indian domestic cricket by just 4 runs.
In the 2006 season, Manoj made 796 runs from his 7 Ranji Trophy matches, and shot up his batting average to 99.50. ‘Chhota Dada’ smashed three scores of 150-plus. He surpassed Arun Lal's record for the highest run aggregate in a Ranji Trophy season for Bengal.
Bengal lost to Mumbai in the Ranji final but Manoj had already announced his arrival at the national stage. His match-winning unbeaten knock of 151 in the last innings to give his side victory over Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy Super League semi final of 2006-07 is arguably his best innings till date.
Here what the Bengal sensation’s proud personal coach had to say about him:
“He was always the first to report for practice and the last to leave the ground. Whenever he was given any cricketing lessons, he would perfect it in quick time. Whatever pressing be his other commitments, cricket was his world.”
Dilip Vengsakar on the emerging youngster:
“He is very talented and has performed creditably in domestic cricket”.
Here’s what his father Shyam Sankar Tiwary had to say about Manoj’s injury:
"Problems and troubles are all part and parcel of life. We were happy that our son got to play for the Indian team."
The Bengal cricketer has the potential of a great team leader. He successfully led his state to victory in the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy and was also made skipper of the Bengal T20 team despite the presence of Ganguly and Deep Dasgupta.
India’s 2007 World Cup debacle saw many senior players rested for the ODI series against Bangladesh. Manoj got his opportunity as he was named in the squad. Unfortunately, he was injured in training and was sent back home for surgery without playing a single game.
Very few people know that the Bengal batsman actually had his first taste of International cricket in an India-Sri Lanka ODI at Kolkata in 2007. The Indian team was struggling with injuries, so a young Manoj Tiwary was drafted into the squad to do twelfth man's duties. Unfortunately, that match lasted only 18.3 overs before the rain gods interrupted proceedings.
Background
Born in Kolkata, Manoj Tiwary was brought up in an average middle-class family. Manoj’s brother recognised his little brother’s talent during his adolescent days and secured a loan to send him to the prestigious "Para" cricket club.
The aggressive Bengali has shown everyone that cricketers from a humble family in India can reach the national side if you have the passion within yourself. Manoj Tiwary has come a long way since his Ranji debut and is all set to be the next great Indian batsman in a sensitive manner.
Why a Young Gun?!
- Prolific run-scorer (surpassed Arun Lal, averaged 99.5 in 2007)
- He has said to have acquired strong leadership skills at the domestic circuit
- Idolises the swashbuckling English batsman Kevin Pietersen
- Touted the ‘chhota dada’ in reference to Sourav Ganguly
- An aggressive approach towards batsmanship
