Struggles, Sacrifices, and Unfulfilled Potential-The Manoj Tiwary Story"

Manoj Tiwary: a former cricketer, who holds special space in Indian cricket history, has been doing very well as a domestic performer with a career that has long been promising; however, reaching the national level was indeed a journey. Struggling through many setbacks to remain on the team became a hard experience for him as well. Having played just 12 ODIs and 3 T20Is for India, Tiwary has shared the same field as cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. Beaten by numerous struggles and challenges off the field, he questioned whether cricket will ever be in his future or not.

Of all such dimensions, perhaps the most characteristic in the biographical life story of Tiwary is that adversities formed a part and parcel of life. He could still recall the time when he was a teenager when cricketing was part of the curriculum for studying in school besides it and making money between two. His financial struggles did not let his sell "poori sabzi" to meet the kitty from his mother. She had cooked it from the Mangla Haat of Kolkata. He relates, "They used to go away after being served food, without paying any bill, thus we were again troubled."

"They were difficult times. The thing that always I had in mind was that I had to repay the loan," Tiwary said while sharing his experiences in an interview on Lallantop.

Tiwary was not limited to street food selling only; he was a factory worker as well during his early years. "I used to be in the factories. Used to make nuts and bolts. I must have been 14 years old back then. The work used to drain me completely. I got paid Rs 1200 for one match if I played for U-16. He further told that tough times in the factory and a will to earn some money by cricketing, therefore increased the focus with which he used to play. "I ran away from the factory; it was too hectic," he recalls. The daily grind of those early years moulded Tiwary's resolve, and despite the setbacks, he kept going and improving.

Tiwary's home career, particularly during the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy season, was simply brilliant with 796 runs at an average of 99.50. He turned out to be one of the most consistent players from Bengal and even led the state team for a few years. However, all this success at the domestic level could not work in his favor at the national level. His entry into the Indian side in 2008 was also not up to his expectations. He began with a pivotal ODI hundred during West Indies tour back in 2011 against the hosts at Chennai, but once he had stepped forward, was sidelined for some time, as this move also proved to frustrate him because it confused Tiwary at large.

No clear reason as to why such sudden exclusion became his fate till the date:. "After I scored a century and was named Player of the Match, I didn't know why I was dropped. It was a confusing phase," he admits. Tiwary was surrounded by players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suresh Raina, all of whom were consistently included in the playing XI. He was one of the brightest performers, but Tiwary was ignored for a period of 14 matches that ran over half a year, and that is a pretty long time for a cricketer. Nor did he get enough practice during those phases, and such periods always make it difficult for players to stage a comeback.

Tiwary further spoke on the influence of the captain in Indian cricket and mentioned how the decision was made, keeping in mind the captain's preference. "Team India runs according to the planning of the skipper. In state teams, things are different, but in Team India, it's all about the captain's choices," he said. He further added that every different captain during their tenure left a distinct mark, much like the case of players like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, and so on.

Though the journey was full of ups and downs, cricket remained his passion. There were times when he even thought of retiring early as he did not get much opportunity. "I wanted to retire, but due to family responsibility, I couldn't take that step," he admitted. The emotional cost of being overlooked repeatedly, despite doing well, was immense, and his unfulfilled potential remained a source of frustration.

Tiwary's story is a testimony to the problems many Indian cricketers face, such as fighting cutthroat competition, balancing personal and professional lives, and fighting the pressure of representing the nation. His resilience and determination in the face of adversity stand as an inspiration for those who are often overlooked despite their hard work and talent.

At the end, Tiwary's journey reminds one of how many sacrifices and struggles athletes face without recognition or reward. He did not get the international career he deserved, but his contribution to domestic cricket and perseverance in tough times will be remembered by the fans of the game