By IANS
New Delhi : Promising Manoj Tiwary twice had the opportunity to force his way into the Indian cricket team. But, as fate would have it, he lost both.
The Bengal all-rounder’s first call-up, which came during the Bangladesh tour last year, ended in frustration. He injured himself during a practice session and was sent back to India without a match under his belt.
His second chance came in the Australia series this summer but Tiwary’s international debut lasted only 16 balls and accounted for two runs before Brett Lee snared him in Brisbane. Tiwary warmed the bench for the rest of the series.
Tiwary is upset about ruining the opportunity, but is determined to make his mark in the star-studded line-up.
The 22-year-old right-hander from Kolkata’s twin-town Howrah said he would focus on the domestic circuit, including next month’s Indian Premier League (IPL), to earn another Team India cap.
“I got a chance in Australia but I could not grab it. Now, I will do everything possible in the domestic circuit to get another opportunity. Rest depends on selectors,” Tiwary told reporters on the sidelines of the announcement of Hero Honda’s association with Delhi Daredevils as their official sponsors here Saturday.
“IPL is a big tournament and I will give the same importance to it as I give to other tournaments,” said Tiwary who will play for the Daredevils.
Tiwary said that the tour Down Under has been a great learning experience for him.
“I have learned a lot from the Australia tour. It also provided me the opportunity to share the dressing room with Sachin Tendulkar whom I have always looked up to since my childhood days.
“Sachin bhai helped me a lot with my game. He has advised me on a couple of things and I am now trying to work on them.”
Asked about playing for Delhi, instead of his hometown Kolkata, in IPL’s Twenty20 extravaganza, Tiwary said: “I would have loved to play for Kolkata, but things did not materialise. It is now a challenge for me to play for Delhi and I am looking forward to playing under Virender Sehwag.”