• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Dukh To Hota Hi Hai Ex Cricketer Opens Old Wounds Questions Ms Dhonis Role In His Controversial Ouster

'Dukh To Hota Hi Hai': Ex-Cricketer Opens Old Wounds, Questions MS Dhoni’s Role In His Controversial Ouster 

Manoj Tiwary and MS Dhoni (Source:@tiwarymanoj/x.com and @Ashutosh_MSD/x.com)Manoj Tiwary and MS Dhoni (Source:@tiwarymanoj/x.com and @Ashutosh_MSD/x.com)

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has once again reignited the conversation surrounding his controversial axing from the Indian cricket team over a decade ago. He indirectly attributed his exclusion to former captain MS Dhoni and the selection committee at the time. 

Tiwary, who made headlines with a match-winning century against West Indies in 2011, was surprisingly dropped from the very next game. Despite his impressive performance, he only returned to the Indian side eight months later, a decision that has haunted him throughout his career.

Manoj Tiwary Express Frustration With Selectors And Dhoni's Influence

In a recent interview with Cricket Addictor, Manoj Tiwary opened up about the emotional toll that the decision took on him, admitting that while time has passed, the scars remain. 

The 38-year-old Bengal cricketer, often hailed as one of the most promising talents of his generation, expressed how getting dropped at the peak of his career damaged his confidence. 

He hinted that his omission was particularly harsh, especially when compared to the continued backing that other players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli received during their lean patches. He also emphasized that while those players were given extended opportunities to find form, he was cast aside after one poor performance despite his potential and achievements.

"See, it happened a long time ago. It's a matter of the past, but yes, dukh to hota hi hai (It was sad). I would lie if I said it wasn't saddening. What can we do? It’s life; but it needs to move forward. If I am to write my autobiography or I do a podcast of my own, I will reveal it all. But it wasn't easy. When a player is at his peak, when his confidence is crushed, it causes a change in mindset," Tiwary told Cricket Addictor in a chat.

Though Tiwary stopped short of directly blaming MS Dhoni for his career’s downturn, his comments suggested that the former India captain’s influence on team selection may have contributed to his exclusion. Over the years, he has repeatedly voiced his displeasure about how he was treated by the selection panel, and suggested that the decision to drop him was unjust and poorly timed, considering the form he was in.

As Tiwary reflected on his journey, one thing is clear: the wounds of his untimely exit from Team India are still fresh, and the question of why he wasn’t given more opportunities remains unanswered.