Indian cricket has seen many promising talents fall short of expectations, and Manoj Tiwary is one of them. Nicknamed ‘Chhota Dada’, he played 12 ODIs and three T20Is over seven years.

He was dropped after scoring. Tiwary began with scores of 2, 2, 22, 11, and 24, struggling to settle at the highest level. When his career seemed to be fading, Virender Sehwag handed him a lifeline. After smashing a record 219 against West Indies in Indore in 2011, Sehwag’s actions in the next match highlighted his remarkable selflessness.

“Virender Sehwag always supported me. He was one of my strongest backers. In fact, during the West Indies match where I scored a century and was named Man of the Match, he sacrificed his place, and took rest,” Tiwary told CricTracker..

“Everyone knows that Sehwag scored a double hundred and would have wanted to score more runs. But he is a good human being and probably felt that I was being treated unfairly,” Tiwary added.

“I realised that when he got the chance to rest and made room for me in the playing eleven, he didn’t just include me in the team but also gave me my preferred batting position at number four.”

He recalled how Gambhir, leading in his absence, was told to let him bat at number four.

“He passed on the message to (Gautam) Gambhir, who captained in his absence. It was all part of God’s plan. He always supported me, and I’ll remain indebted to him for as long as I live.”