Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has sparked a fresh debate with his bold claim against MS Dhoni. Speaking about his limited chances in international cricket, Tiwary alleged that Dhoni only supported his favourite players and did not stand by him despite strong performances.
Manoj Tiwary Opens Up on Dhoni’s Captaincy
Tiwary made his ODI debut under Dhoni’s leadership during the Australia tour. Despite his talent, he played only 12 ODIs and 3 T20Is for India, his last appearance coming in 2018 against Zimbabwe.
In a candid statement, Tiwary said:
“I scored runs, I took wickets, yet I was dropped. After my century, I was left out of the very next match. I still don’t know what mistake I made. Dhoni must answer this.”
He also revealed his frustration at not getting consistent opportunities:
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Tiwary scored a half-century against Sri Lanka.
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He took 4 wickets for 21 runs in one ODI.
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Despite this, he was again dropped from the squad.
According to Tiwary, Dhoni kept backing a few players he liked, while others were ignored. “If he truly stood by players, he should have supported me too,” he added.
Lalit Modi on Cricket in the US: “Without Stars, It’s Dead”
While Tiwary’s words grabbed attention in India, Lalit Modi, the man who founded the Indian Premier League (IPL), made a different but equally explosive statement about cricket’s future in the United States.
Modi bluntly said that cricket in America cannot grow without superstars like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.
Recalling a chat with West Indies legend Chris Gayle, Modi revealed:
“I asked Chris how the Major League Cricket series was. He said, ‘My brother, it’s dead. No one was in the stadium.’”
“Fans Pay for Stars, Not Unknown Players”
According to Modi, American audiences will not spend money to watch unknown cricketers.
He explained:
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Fans want global icons like Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Michael Clarke, and Brett Lee.
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Cricket without stars will not attract crowds in the US.
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Even the 2024 T20 World Cup saw packed stands only for the India vs Pakistan clash.
“Why would anyone pay to watch Virat Singh play Dushyant Singh? They want Dhoni and Kohli,” Modi said sharply.
Comparison with Other Sports
Modi compared cricket’s struggle with other global sports:
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NBA, NFL, and baseball dominate only in the US and not elsewhere.
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Even football (soccer) needed Messi to attract attention in America.
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Tickets for a Club World Cup match dropped from $400 to just $13 due to low demand.
What These Explosive Claims Mean for Cricket Fans
Both Tiwary’s allegations and Modi’s warnings raise important questions:
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Did Dhoni’s leadership really favour only a select few players?
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Can cricket ever become a mainstream sport in the US without Indian icons like Kohli and Dhoni?
One thing is clear: MS Dhoni’s name continues to dominate cricket headlines, whether through past teammates’ claims or global debates about his star power.