Manoj Tiwary Fires Back at Assistant Coach Over Rohit Sharma Criticism
Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has launched a strong rebuttal against India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. The controversy stems from ten Doeschate's recent comments about Rohit Sharma's performance in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand.
The Controversial Comments
Ryan ten Doeschate suggested that Rohit Sharma's modest scores of 26 and 24 in the first two matches might result from insufficient game time. This assessment has sparked significant debate within cricket circles.
However, the statistics tell a different story. Rohit Sharma made a spectacular return to international cricket in October. He scored a fifty and a century during the ODI series in Australia, earning the Player of the Series award. He carried that excellent form into India's home series against South Africa.
Just last month, Rohit also participated in Mumbai's first two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. He delivered a commanding century in the tournament opener, demonstrating his readiness and form.
Tiwary's Strong Response
Manoj Tiwary, who shared the dressing room with ten Doeschate for four years at Kolkata Knight Riders, expressed his disappointment directly. Speaking to PTI, Tiwary stated, "With a lot of respect, I would like to tell Ryan ten Doeschate that he was with me for four years at KKR. No doubt he is a very good person, but the kind of comment he has made, I think he should have thought about it."
Tiwary highlighted the vast difference in career achievements between the two players. "He has also played international cricket for the Netherlands, but if you look at his international record, I say this with all due respect—it is not even 5% of what Rohit has achieved in his career, not just as a batter but also as a captain," Tiwary emphasized.
Calling the Comments Demoralising
The former cricketer described the assistant coach's remarks as particularly damaging. "He has given the nation so much happiness by winning the Champions Trophy also and after that, talking like this, that too when he is in the team, not like he is sitting at home and commenting, he is a part of the management, and telling like this about your player is demoralising," Tiwary explained.
He expressed confusion about the motivation behind such comments from a support staff member. "I don't know why he said that. He has to reflect on this. I feel he must not make such comments," Tiwary added, calling for greater responsibility from team management.
Looking Ahead
India will face New Zealand in the final ODI of the three-match series on January 18 in Indore. Following this series, Rohit Sharma, who has retired from Tests and T20Is, will take a break from international cricket. He will prepare for India's upcoming tour of England during the summer months.
This exchange highlights the sensitive nature of public comments about player form, especially when they come from within the team management structure. It raises questions about how support staff should communicate assessments of player performance.
