MS Dhoni is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest captains of all time. He led the team to the ICC ODI World Cup in 2011 and made India a force to reckon with in Test cricket. While certain players became household names under his leadership, certain others were not given enough opportunities to prove their worth consistently.
And now, a player from the latter category, Manoj Tiwary, has demanded an explanation from Dhoni for being dropped from the team after scoring a century. Tiwari smashed a century against West Indies in 2011 and was unceremoniously dropped from the team for the next 14 matches.
A day after playing his last Ranji Trophy match for Bengal, Tiwary has demanded an explanation from Dhoni on the matter. While other captains may be used to this kind of criticism from their former players, this is perhaps the first time that someone has openly called out MS Dhoni’s choices.
Despite consistently piling on the runs in domestic cricket, Tiwary’s opportunities at the international level were limited and sporadic. He found himself in and out of the Indian team, often without a fair chance to prove his worth. And now, Tiwary has revealed his belief that MS Dhoni cut short his international career before it could even get going properly.
As a player, Tiwary had what it took to play at the highest level. He was a resolute batter, a handy bowler and a capable fielder. But a lack of opportunities and support has reduced Tiwary’s career to a story of what could have been.
Why Tiwary’s Statement Cannot be Taken Seriously
Having said that, the fact that Tiwary waited to finish his career before calling out Dhoni also tells you a lot about Tiway’s personality. If he had to take a dig at Dhoni during his playing days, not only would no one believe him, but it would also have dire consequences.
More importantly, being a team player requires more than just runs. It requires a player to have a certain attitude and teamwork. Maybe Dhoni knew that Tiwary lacked these things and therefore dropped him from the team. While it’s true that Tiwary never got his due during his playing days, his comments on Dhoni can be seen as an attempt to stay relevant even after his career is done and dusted.
