One of the stalwarts of Indian domestic cricket, Manoj Tiwary called time on his playing career after leading Bengal to a stunning win over Bihar at the Eden Gardens in their final league-stage game of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season on Saturday (February 17).
Days after his retirement, Tiwary expressed concerns over the IPL-centric approach of young cricketers and strongly advocated for greater emphasis on Ranji Trophy – India’s premier first-class tournament.
Earlier this month, Tiwary had made a bizarre suggestion that the Ranji Trophy should be scrapped from the Indian domestic calendar but didn’t exactly mention the reason behind his radical suggestion as he was an active BCCI cricketer. He was fined 20 per cent of his match fee for that comment.
The former Bengal captain also went live on Facebook, where he said that he would reveal the reasons behind his scathing social media post on Ranji Trophy following his retirement.
“I can observe that young players have adopted an IPL-centric mindset. Those who don’t play IPL often go to Dubai or other places whenever they find some free time,” Tiwary said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of his felicitation at the Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club.
“Now, expressing any opinion might lead to a ban. I have already been penalised with a 20 per cent reduction in my match fee for just one post,” he added.
Young wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan’s prolonged absence from the Indian team has become a hot topic of discussion lately. Despite India head coach Rahul Dravid’s suggestion to play competitive cricket, the southpaw didn't make himself available for Jharkhand in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
Recently, the BCCI made it mandatory for its contracted players to play a minimum number of Ranji Trophy games to be considered eligible for the IPL auction pool.
“In hindsight, I feel that the directive issued by the BCCI might not have been given had I not posted it on X. Perhaps my post prompted the BCCI secretary to put the players under pressure now.
“The seriousness they have shown by taking this step in the crucial stage of the Ranji Trophy indicates their concern that many players, especially high-profile ones who have succeeded in the IPL with limited first-class cricket, are not giving enough importance to the Ranji Trophy,” Tiwary said.
“I could have spoken up earlier, but it seems that the BCCI is no longer governed by sportspersons; it’s now run by politicians. I am associated with a political party, but I am also a sportsperson.
“I don’t want to engage in a fight; I simply want the Ranji Trophy to be prioritised, as it is slowly losing its importance.”
According to Tiwary, the essence of IPL seems lost as he went on to criticize the approach of young cricketers.
“The new-age cricketers adopt a ‘Bazball’ approach, swinging the bat aggressively from the first ball. Personally, I dislike this approach because it focuses solely on winning or losing.
“However, there is a scope to save a match, especially when facing a potential loss. They are aiming to secure an IPL contract or improve their strike rate to attract attention.
“I won’t blame the players; it’s a situation that has emerged. The essence of IPL seems to have been lost,” he said.
Manoj Tiwary urged the BCCI officials to take some steps to increase the significance of the prestigious Ranji Trophy.
“IPL is a massive platform for all of us, but I also request the BCCI president and secretary to increase the significance of the Ranji Trophy.
“Many players have emerged from this tournament. While we celebrate winning series, it is disheartening that we are unable to clinch ICC trophies, whether it be the WTC or World Cup.
“We feel saddened because India has immense talent, unlike Australia, yet they have won numerous World Cups. The focus should ultimately be on ICC tournaments, with the Ranji Trophy playing an integral role in preparing players for such competitions,” he remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)
