Manoj Tiwary Exclusive | "Opportunities will not come on your plate," Tiwary on zero bids for Bengal players in IPL auction

Manoj Tiwary, a player with one IPL trophy, played in two IPL finals, nearly 10000 first-class runs and surely a living legend of Bengal cricket, feels Bengal players need to go a cut above the rest to attract bids from IPL teams. The 38-year-old batter who started preparation for his final season in first-class cricket on Friday by playing a club cricket game in the first-division league, shared his thoughts on Bengal cricket, players and his preparations for the Ranji Trophy exclusively on Sportz Point

Manoj had announced retirement just before the start of the season had started but then took back the retirement after a request from CAB President Snehasish Ganguly and a rebuke from his wife. Then, he announced that this red-ball season would be his last in first-class cricket and he will again go after the Ranji Trophy.

Also Read: Manoj Tiwary reverses his retirement decision to play for Bengal

Tiwary's decision to retire after last year's heartbreak in the final was ovioulsy influenced by his knee problems over the years. But, after batting for more than 6 hours, against a good promising young bowlers of Tapan Memorial, Tiwary feels he is in good condition to start the season.

After battling through a hostile bowling from a young U-23 pacer named Vivek Rishav in the late evening at Eden Gardens, Manoj said, "We will get two matches to prepare ourselves before the start of the Ranji Trophy. So, I wanted to take advantage of that and get ready for the season. This is the first time I went to bat in a match after last year's final, felt good."

"The knee is doing just fine. The habit of weaking up again on 6.30 in the morning will take some time to adjust. But, yes, the body is getting used to it now."

"It feels good to do what I am doing since my childhood. The team needed me to bat the day out, I was able to do that. So, I am happy," Manoj added after remaining unbeaten after Day 1's play between Barisha Sporting and Tapan Memorial.

Manoj Tiwary is just 92 runs away from completing 10000 first-class runs.

On a day when the headlines should have been about Manoj Tiwary starting his season, two young pacers of Bengal impressed one and all. Debopratim Halder, who was in the white-ball squad for Bengal, took a six-wicket haul to impress his captain.

Along with him, another young pacer Rishabh Vivek caught the eyes of the former Bengal captain with some pace and accuracy.

"Yes, these lads are good. This was the first-time I saw Debopratim bowling. Good. I heard he was in the white-ball squad as well. We will not have Mukesh and Akashdeep most of the times now. So, it is good that young bowlers are coming up as well.

Vivek, the bowler from the opponent is good as well. But, obviously, they will have to keep doing this day and day out for the teams they are playing," Manoj expressed.

Manoj Tiwary played a vital knock of 63 from 141 balls for Barisha Sporting Club. Debopratim Halder took 33/6 while Rishabh Vivek finished with 86/5 as Barisha took 7 points against Tapan Memorial at Eden Gardens.

In the recently concluded IPL 2024 Auction, there were nine players in the final list from Cricket Assoication of Bengal. However, unfortunately, none of them were able to attract any bids from any franchises.

Also Read: IPL 2024 Squads after the auction

Is it something the franchises are missing constantly or the Bengal players are not just been good enough? We asked the 2012 IPL Champion with Kolkata Knight Riders.

"Look, from a player's perspective I feel that the opportunities will not come on your plate. I feel no one should hope and pray that I will get into the teams with the help of someone."

'Many players have played in IPL and the highest level from Bengal, but without any help from anyone. Players will have to cut out all the things which are restricting them from going to that level."

"We players have to fight every time and keep showing why we deserve to be here. There will be a Bengal Premier League in coming months. So, surely these players will have the opportunity to showcase their talent and the make the franchises see what they are missing out on," Manoj told Sportz Point.