Indian cricket has witnessed several promising talents who, for various reasons, couldn’t achieve their full potential. Among them, Manoj Tiwary stands out as one of the most notable cases. Nicknamed ‘Chhota Dada,’ Manoj Tiwary showed glimpses of a flourishing career for India but it was limited to just 12 ODIs and three T20Is. What’s even more striking is that these matches were spread across seven years, during which Manoj Tiwary was frequently in and out of the team. He remains best remembered for being dropped after scoring a century, yet the journey to that remarkable hundred is a story worth revisiting.
In his initial five appearances for India, Manoj Tiwary struggled to find form, registering scores of 2, 2, 22, 11 and 24. Just as his career seemed to be losing direction, it was the legendary Virender Sehwag who extended him a crucial lifeline. The year was 2011 and the month was December. Sehwag had just set the cricketing world alight with a stunning 219 against West Indies in Indore. However, the following match would underscore Virender Sehwag’s selfless character and pave the way for Manoj Tiwary’s career-defining innings.
During an interview, Manoj Tiwary said, “He [Sehwag] is my idol. I will be indebted to him till my last breath. Because if he didn’t drop himself, my life would have been different. When Virender Sehwag, Gambhir bhai and I had good relations, and I was part of the team for 7 years in and out, Viru bhai saw that I wasn’t getting chances or being shuffled up and down. Sometimes, I would suddenly be made to open, then bat at 5; he observed that I was not given justice.”
Manoj Tiwary added, “The series in which he scored a double hundred (in Indore). He rested himself and told Gambhir that we have to make him play and bat at No. 4. In the bus, Viru bhai asked me, where do you want to bat. I said I just want to bat for the country. When he insisted, I told him, I’ve always batted at No. 4. So then he conveyed it to him [Gambhir].”
Manoj Tiwary’s century came in dramatic circumstances. India, batting first, found itself reeling at 1/2, setting the stage for Manoj Tiwary to walk in early. Partnering with Gautam Gambhir, the stand-in captain, Manoj Tiwary stabilised the innings with an 83-run stand before Gambhir fell LBW to Anthony Martin. From there, Manoj Tiwary and Virat Kohli formed a 117-run partnership for the fourth wicket. While Kohli narrowly missed out on his hundred, falling short by 20 runs, Manoj Tiwary ensured he reached the landmark. Unfortunately, his innings was cut short by cramps, forcing him to retire hurt.
Manoj Tiwary further said, “And look how things turned out. As I always believe in luck, in the first three balls, India lost two wickets – Ajinkya Rahane and Parthiv Patel. When I went in there, I had a blank mind. When that happens, more often than not, good things happen. This was written in my stars – to score a hundred. So when I scored the century and collected the Player of the Match award, I felt that I belong in international cricket. He [Sehwag] was very happy.”
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Despite this heroic performance, Manoj Tiwary’s career remained marked by inconsistency in opportunities, leaving fans to wonder what he could have achieved if he had received more consistent support. His story is a poignant reminder of the challenges cricketers face in fulfilling their potential amidst the fierce competition of international cricket.
