Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has accused legendary captain MS Dhoni of showing favouritism during his tenure. Tiwary, who made his international debut under Dhoni in 2008, claimed that despite strong performances, he never received the backing he deserved.
“Injuries did play a part in my career, but Dhoni’s favouritism also had a huge role. Some players got consistent chances, but I wasn’t backed in the same way,” Tiwary told CricTracker.
Performances That Went Unrewarded
Tiwary, who played 12 ODIs and three T20Is for India, recalled how his career stagnated despite impactful performances. After scoring his maiden ODI century against the West Indies, he was inexplicably dropped. Later, on the Sri Lanka tour, he won the Player of the Match award for a four-wicket haul and followed it up with a half-century in the next game — yet he was sidelined again.
“I still don’t know why I didn’t get more chances. Only Dhoni, Duncan Fletcher, and the selectors from that time can answer,” he said.
“If I Meet Dhoni, I’ll Ask Him”
The Bengal veteran revealed that he has never confronted Dhoni but would like to know the truth if he ever meets him.
“Whenever I come across MS Dhoni, I’ll definitely ask him why I wasn’t backed even after scoring a century. Till now, I have no clue what went wrong,” he added.
Different Experiences With Dhoni’s Captaincy
Over the years, several players have credited Dhoni for backing youngsters and helping them succeed at the highest level. But Tiwary believes his story doesn’t fit that narrative.
“Reputation and perception go by what people see, but my experience was different. If he really backed players, he would have backed me after I performed. In my case, performance wasn’t enough,” Tiwary explained.
“Dhoni Did Not Like Me”
In a blunt remark, Tiwary suggested that personal preferences may have played a role.
“Dhoni maybe didn’t like me. He gave full support to a couple of players he really liked, and many people in the team knew about it — though not everyone would speak up. Strong likes and dislikes exist in cricket everywhere, and I think I fell into the ‘dislike’ category,” he said.
A Divisive Legacy
While acknowledging Dhoni’s leadership qualities, Tiwary maintained that his personal experience was one of neglect. “Everybody admires MS, and rightly so, but my journey under him was different. It’s something I’ll always question,” he concluded.
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