Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has once again stirred debate around team selection during MS Dhoni’s captaincy, alleging that the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman practised “favouritism” and did not back him despite strong performances.
Tiwary’s Frustration Over Dropping Despite Century
Speaking to CricTracker, Tiwary recalled that he scored a century but was dropped soon after, without explanation. “I think MS Dhoni, Duncan Fletcher, and the selectors will be the ones who will be able to answer that because till now, I haven’t got any answer,” he said. Tiwary added that although he respected Dhoni’s leadership skills, he never received the kind of support he expected, despite performing whenever given chances.
Examples of Overlooked Performances
Tiwary cited specific matches to strengthen his claim. After making a comeback, he picked four wickets against Sri Lanka and scored 21 runs in the same game. In the following match, he scored 65, yet was left out again. “Performance is supposed to be the ultimate criterion, but in my case, it didn’t happen,” Tiwary lamented, suggesting that Dhoni backed only a few players he liked.
Accusations of Strong Liking and Disliking
Tiwary went further, alleging that Dhoni practised selective backing. “I think there were a couple of individuals whom he really liked and gave full backing at that point of time. A lot of people know, but not everyone comes forward and speaks about it. So there is a very strong liking and disliking that happens in cricket everywhere. I consider myself in the disliking group. He did not like me, maybe,” he said.
Earlier Remarks Against Gautam Gambhir
This latest accusation comes just days after Tiwary labelled current India head coach Gautam Gambhir a “hypocrite.” His blunt remarks against two of India’s biggest cricketing names—Gambhir and Dhoni—have sparked fresh discussions about fairness and transparency in team selection during the past decade.
