Bengal Cricketer Manoj Tiwary is all set to start his last and final season of his career as he signed for Braisha Sporting Club to prepare for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2023-24. Earlier, the Bengal batter had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. However, after requests from CAB officials and team management, Manoj Tiwary has agreed to give it a go for the last and final time in his career.
Manoj Tiwary led Bengal to another Ranji Trophy final last season but unfortunately had to be satisfied with the runners-up trophy after Jaydev Unadkat's Suarasthra defeated them on their turf, at Eden Gardens. The experienced batter from Bengal has a long story with his knee, but after the heartbreaks of last season, he is ready to give it all in for his team.
"I have won every trophy in Indian domestic cricket except the Ranji Trophy. So, I want to finish with Ranji Trophy in my last season," Manoj Tiwary told Sportz Point.
"I always had the dedication to give my 100%:" Manoj Tiwary on questions over his commitment to cricket as a politician now
Despite giving everything on the field, after joining politics, there were questions raised about his commitment towards Bengal cricket. But, with his eagerness to prepare well for the red-ball format of the game, the 9908 first-class runs scorer again proved that his willingness to bring glory to Bengal cricket can not be questioned.
"Whenever I have represented any team, I have always given 100% commitment to that team. I have gained everything in my life from cricket. So, I've always given my wholehearted effort whenever I have played. I always had the dedication to give my 100%. I have never got anything in my life easily. So, even when I played for any club, I have given my whole heart to them," Manoj Tiwary added.
As Manoj Tiwary signed for Barisha Sporting Club as a player and mentor, he believes that if he does not give his 100 per cent on the file, it will give a wrong message to the youngsters. So, he wants to make sure that he is giving the right roadmap to every youngster in the team.
"I want to finish at my peak:" Manoj Tiwary
After playing for nearly two decades, Manoj Tiwary still wants to be at his peak and win that Best Batsman Award just like he had started. "The season will start in January and before that, I will need some practice matches to be ready for the Ranji Trophy. This will be my last year. Just like my starting days, I want to win the Best Batsman award and finish at my peak for my team," he expressed.
Manoj Tiwary's signing as a player and mentor is hoped to be a decision that can change Bengal cricket's future. With his experience of two decades, Manoj Tiwary can surely change some of the young cricketers' games during his team with the Barisha Sporting Club. Manjo himself wants to help those young players so that they can get better individually and then play well as a team.
"Look, I always wanted to share my knowledge with young players. With the ability god has given me to read game situations, I will first try to assess the young players individually and then help them so that they can become better cricketers and do well collectively," Manoj Tiwary told Sportz Point.
"We have got a great squad:" Tiwary on Barisha Sporting Club's squad
Barisha Sporting despite having a very good squad every year fails to go the last distance and win the trophy. But, this year Manoj Tiwary is confident that, he will bring a trophy to Barisha Sporting Club. "Yes, we will win the trophy. As a captain, I have won every trophy except the Ranji Trophy. I am always confident as a captain. We have got a great squad as well. So, if we play according to plans, we will surely be successful."
Just like Barish Sporting Club, Bengal has not been able to go the distance despite being one of the best sides in Indian domestic cricket. Manoj feels learning from last year's mistakes will be the first thing and then coming up with a new gameplan every season to be ahead of the opposition. "The ultimate goal is to win the Ranji Trophy. We have to learn from last season's mistakes and then be ahead of the opposition with the game plans. I want to finish winning the Ranji Trophy in my last season."
Barisha Sporting Club | Full squad
Manoj Tiwary, Abishek Porel, Sumanta Gupta, Agniv Pan, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Karan Lal, Ankit Mishra, Anurag Tiwari, Arindam Ghosh, Debopratim Halder, Priyangshu Srivastava, Chandrahans Das, Sandipan Das (Jr), Punit Mishra, Ankit Shukla, Ayush Pandey, Kanishk Seth, Aditya Verma, Sarasij Mukherjee, Suraj Singh, Prriyank Patel, Subham Majumder, Raj Chakraborty, Lokhya Kocha