Manoj Tiwary Fires Back at Assistant Coach Over Rohit Sharma Criticism
Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has launched a strong attack on national team assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. Tiwary condemned recent comments made by ten Doeschate about senior opener Rohit Sharma's performance in the New Zealand ODI series.
Tiwary Defends Rohit Sharma's Legacy
Speaking at a recent event, Tiwary expressed his disappointment with ten Doeschate's remarks. He emphasized that such statements from within the team management could harm player morale. Tiwary pointed out that ten Doeschate's own international achievements pale in comparison to Rohit Sharma's illustrious career.
"With all due respect," Tiwary told PTI, "if you look at his performance in international cricket, it is not even 5% of what Rohit has achieved. This includes his contributions as both a batter and a captain."
The Controversial Comments from Rajkot
The controversy stems from the second ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot. Rohit Sharma, who entered 2026 as the world's top-ranked ODI batter, scored 26 and 24 in the series. After New Zealand leveled the series, ten Doeschate suggested Rohit might be "a little bit short on cricket" leading into the matches.
The Dutch coach explained that difficult pitch conditions combined with limited match practice might have affected Rohit's typically fluent batting style. He clarified that Rohit was not playing selfishly, but rather facing challenging circumstances.
Tiwary Questions the Timing and Impact
Tiwary, who played alongside ten Doeschate for four years at Kolkata Knight Riders, acknowledged his former teammate as a good person. However, he strongly objected to the public nature of the criticism. He stressed that such comments from a management member could dent a player's confidence.
"He has given the nation so much happiness," Tiwary said about Rohit's Champions Trophy victory and other achievements. "Talking like this when he is part of the team management is demoralizing. He should reflect on this and avoid making such comments."
Rohit Sharma's Recent Form
Despite the current discussion, Rohit Sharma's recent performances show significant achievements:
- Scored his 33rd ODI century against Australia in Sydney during October 2025
- Followed with two fifties in India's 2-1 series win against South Africa last month
- Played for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, hitting a century and a duck in Jaipur
Tiwary's comments highlight the sensitive balance between technical analysis and player support within professional cricket teams. The incident raises questions about how coaching staff should communicate about player form, especially regarding established stars like Rohit Sharma.
