In Ranji semis, Minister Manoj Tiwary still living the dream

A minister of state now, Manoj Tiwary is not done with cricket yet as he leads Bengal to yet another Ranji Trophy semi-final

Manoj Tiwary is always on the move. Bengal’s Ranji captain as well as minister of state for youth and sports affairs, Tiwary has no say over his own time. And it doesn’t bother him as long as the targets are met. At 37, Tiwary’s life and aspirations have changed but no motivation is bigger for him than winning the Ranji Trophy for Bengal.

Manoj Tiwary plays a shot during the Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final match between Bengal and Jharkhand (PTI)

This is why he is still pushing himself for one last go at glory, hitting five fifties and leading Bengal to yet another Ranji Trophy semi-final (against Madhya Pradesh, starting in Indore on Wednesday). Not the luckiest man in Indian cricket, Tiwary spoke about his career, disappointments and how he manages to strike a balance between cricket and political duties.

Excerpts:

You have been here before as well (Tiwary has been part of three runners-up sides—in 2005-06, 2006-07, 2019-20). Does this campaign seem different?

It does. The last couple of seasons, I wasn’t leading the side. This time I did because it came to me, they asked me to (after Abhimanyu Easwaran was called away on India A duty). Leading a team to the semi-finals, with comprehensive wins in the league phase, with most of the implementation, gut feeling and onfield decisions going our way—I think I got 95% dividends off them—that way it was very fulfilling. Experience helps. My experience as a player and captain held me in good stead this time. It gives extra satisfaction when the decision-making is correct. And that’s where it feels different. I have been at this before as well but some things didn’t go to plan. But this time around, there is a gut feeling we are there.

Do you think leadership comes naturally to you?

I think so. Either you are born with it or you learn with many years of experience. You can say I was one of the blessed ones. Over a period of time, playing for Bengal, India A, India helped me become a better captain. Maybe I’m a little polished now. Probably that’s why most of the decisions are going well. It’s also because I analyse the decisions I had taken earlier that didn’t help my team’s cause. Not repeating those mistakes and rallying the team together were key factors.

You were always very outspoken. Did it work more against you than for you?

I would say it worked against me. Most of the time you could say. I always believe in God and I always wanted to be an honest person. At the end of the day, I want to sleep peacefully. Honesty works against you most of the time nowadays but I feel I should speak my mind. You grow as a person as well and you learn from experience. I have never fought for myself as much as I have done for others. And trust me, it has harmed my career too. It has upset others but I can’t do anything about it.

Let’s talk about that hundred (104*) against the West Indies in 2011. Were you surprised at not getting a longer run after that?

Everyone was very happy for me. And also, that hundred gave me so much confidence that I belonged to this level. Before that I was getting opportunities in different contexts and scenarios, like making my debut within 24 hours of landing in Australia, being asked to open in the West Indies—which I had never done before—and then No 4 in the next match. I kept performing but wasn’t getting a chance. Then I got injured in Bangladesh.

Before that hundred, there was always this question mark that whether I belonged at that level. People from the outside questioned and honestly, I was also asking myself. And I finally did it. I never knew that after scoring hundred and getting Man of the Match, I would be dropped for the next 14 games. It was heartbreaking. I still can’t digest the fact there was no communication on why I was dropped. I was at my peak then. I will never wish this on anyone.

You hit those winning runs for KKR (in 2011 IPL). Do you think somehow be it in IPL or international, you were never properly utilised?

I wouldn’t say that. There is no limit to improving as well if you have the ability. You either have it or don’t. In the IPL I have so many match-winning contributions. But I have realised not just your performance but man-management skills also count a lot. Maybe I didn’t understand that and that’s why I didn’t get enough backing. There are so many who don’t play enough domestic cricket but still have an IPL contract.

What’s your message to youngsters who aspire to go to that level?

Be honest. Have your goals, sacrifice a lot of things for the next 4-5 years and work hard. Eat, live and sleep cricket because if you do that, not only you but your family will be set for life. Nowhere else would you get ₹10 crore for two months of IPL. So it’s important to make that sacrifice.

How has life changed after becoming an MLA and minister of state for youth affairs and sports?

For the better, I would say. I always wanted to work for the poor, for those sections of my society. I have been through that struggle myself, I know what it takes to survive and secure a good future. I can see myself in a lot of struggling people. I wanted a platform with a bigger reach, and hence politics. I was injured, and IPL comeback was going to be difficult so I took those into account before deciding on embarking on this. But the primary motivation was to serve my people. It’s time-consuming and none of this would have been possible without my wife (Sushmita). Without her permission and support it wouldn’t have happened.

How do you juggle these duties?

Over the phone, mostly. I have a team that works in my absence. When I have to sign any papers, I ask them to courier it to whichever venue I am playing. I play in the morning, go off to recovery in the evening and then I get down to all the paperwork before I go off to sleep.

Will you retire if you win the Ranji Trophy?

Most probably, yes.