Manoj Tiwary finally earns his spurs

When Gautam Gambhir won the toss and was asked about the changes in the Indian playing 11, the stand-in captain was at a loss for words before coming out with two names: Ajinkya Rahane and Irfan Pathan.

He had forgotten to mention Manoj Tiwary. Not surprising, since the 26-year-old Bengal batsman has largely been a fringe India player, slipping the mental radar of even his own teammates.

Perhaps his name might be easier for everyone to remember after his classy 104 at Chepauk against the West Indies on Sunday. Tiwary arrived at No. 4 with four balls bowled and two wickets down for 1 Paceman Kemar Roach was on rampage and the pitch was anything but a featherbed. But barring the second ball he faced, a vicious snorter from Roach, Tiwary always looked in command.

By the time he walked off cringing with pain caused by cramps in his forehand, the middle-order batsman had finally translated his potential into performance. The innings not only rescued a floundering India, it has hopefully also revitalized his own stop-start international career.

In 2007, Tiwary was hot and happening, the most promising of young fillies hoping to break into the national team. But his confidence was severely dented following a shoulder injury incurred the morning he was expected to debut against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2007. By the time, the Class IV Railways employee's son rejoined the queue of hopefuls a year later, others had taken his spot. That injury took away a lot of his self-belief. His shot selection became erratic. The IPL helped in making him financially secure and a couple of knocks put the focus back on him again. But he was still far from his best.

In the years that followed, Tiwary got a few chances to perform at the highest level. But they were like after-thoughts, alms for a struggler. He was never trusted with a full series.

Before Sunday, his ODI career was spread over five games in four series. Sometimes, despite being in the squad, he didn't get a game. Twice, he was flown in and asked to play immediately on landing - in 2008, the middle-order batsman had barely landed in Australia when he was asked to face a rampaging Brett Lee in Brisbane.

It was the same story again in Southampton, England earlier this year. And when Tiwary nicked one to England 'keeper Kieswetter before his home crowd at Eden Gardens in October this year, he appeared destined to be one of those unfortunate tales of unrealized talent.

But with a career-best 267 against Madhya Pradesh and a 132 against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy last month, Tiwary seemed to be striking peak form again. On Sunday, the Bengal batsman finally seems to have re-written his destiny.

Commentator Sunil Gavaskar remarked, "His strokes were blessed with timing." After reaching 80, cramps gripped him. However, Tiwary managed to put mind over matter. A stunning six over long off, followed by a delicate leg-glance took him past 100.

Maybe Gambhir will not forget his name now. And hopefully, his mention will throw up more results on Google than the Bhojpuri singer-actor with whom he shares his name.

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