Manoj Tiwary ready to face the future

“It was a very boring time for me. I was dying to get back on the field, something I grew up doing all my life. And suddenly I was, as if, caged. And on top of it, I was asked to do routine exercises. But the books helped. And I am back on track now, fully fit,” the 21-year old said here.

Tiwari learns from every step of life. Even the injury, which he sustained during a fielding drill on the eve of what could have been his debut match in Bangladesh, taught him. “I learnt from it. Never give 100 per cent on the eve of an important match. Give only 80 per cent,” he said.

The excitement of his inclusion in the Indian team for the Bangladesh tour had yet to die down in his Howrah home, when the Bengal captain was on his way back. “It was very frustrating and disappointing. Even for my folks at home, it was tough. They were expecting me to get some runs and cement my place in the team, especially as I was batting so well last year. I had a momentum. And then I was back. But life doesn’t stop, does it?” he laughed.

But that laugh can’t hid the pain of being left out of the triumphant Twenty20 World Cup team. “The guys have done really well. I am proud of them. But while watching the matches, the thought that I could have been a part of this did cross my mind, especially after a decent Twenty20 domestic session. But again, as I said, it’s way forward for me now,” said Tiwary, who has been included on Thursday in BCCI’s newly-introduced D-category contract for players.

“It’s very motivating. But now I will have to keep performing to stay in the D-grade. And I need to get some runs under my belt now to stake my claim back into the team,” he added.

But is fate against him even now? Ever since the batsman-cum-legbreak-bowler has recovered from his injury, rain has followed him. All but one match of the Moin-ud-Doula Gold Cup in Hyderabad were washed out and then the matches against South Africa A were affected by rain. “Yeah it’s very unfortunate. I could bat only in one match. That was in Hyderabad where I scored 17. But there are matches ahead. One against the Proteas at Rajkot and then there is the Irani Trophy. I have got my rhythm back. And I am sure I will start scoring like last year, and soon be back in the national team,” he said on a confident note.

And that confidence comes from years of struggle, and the willingness to learn at every step. “Right from my childhood. It’s because I believe in myself, my abilities, and the hardships I have faced. I have struggled at every stage as I come from a poor background (his father works in the Railways as a fitter). I didn’t even have a kit once. But my coach Manabendra Ghosh helped me a lot. One of my aim now is to help poor kids. There is so much of talent. Manabendra Sir does it. I just want to take it over from him.”