How MS Dhoni, Steve Smith helped Rising Pune Supergiant prosper, reveals Manoj Tiwary

Mumbai: Manoj Tiwary, who scored a vital half century as Rising Pune Supergiant beat Mumbai Indians to enter the IPL 2017 final on Tuesday, explained how MS Dhoni-Steve Smith partnership is paying dividends.

When asked about how Smith captained the side and how Dhoni’s inputs helped the Australian, Tiwary said: “Mahi bhai, obviously, is supporting him really well. It is quite evident that Dhoni is manoeuvring the field and keeping them (fielder) in the right positions where Smith is concentrating on changing bowlers. He has too much on his plate and in that way, Mahi bhai is standing in the right position and guiding each and every player to stand in the right position.”

“It has been equally important as every individual in the team. Obviously, he has been nominated as the captain. He shares what he has to with every individual. He is doing a good job, but the kind of results that we are getting it cannot be only credited to one person. Each and every one has played their part, whether it is on the field or off the field, by giving suggestions to him because he is also someone who he is not from India. So, he also needs suggestions at times. Also, he does not completely know the domestic Indian players. So, in those situations it is important we share our ideas,” added the Bengal batsman, who has impressed one and all with his batting displays in IPL 2017.

Tiwary, who could not feature in the previous edition of the tournament due to injury, thanked the team management and RPS owner Sanjeev Goenka for the faith shown in him.

“Last year, I was not part of this team, I was injured. But this year from the start, I think, first of all, I am very thankful to the RPS team management and Mr. Goenka (Sanjeev) for giving me the opportunity to be part of a brilliant team where there likes of MS bhai, Steve Smith, then Ajju is there and so many talented players who have performed well in international cricket,” said Tiwary, who scored 48-ball 58 in the Qualifier 1 against Mumbai Indians.

“Coming here, I observed that the coach and the captain don’t speak too much. They make sure that they talk very less and only specific things we discussed in the meetings and we don’t have too many meetings which take too much time. It is clear message; short and sharp. I think the players have performed really well. Each and every player has peaked at the right time and performed whenever (he) got opportunities. It is a collective effort, to be honest. Because at the end of the day, the players have to perform on the field to get the result and no matter how much discussion you do, how much planning you do, it is upto us, each and every individual, if we go back and have a look, each and everyone has contributed whether it’s batting, bowling or fielding,” added the right-handed batsman.

Tiwary, who has been a veteran on India’s domestic circuit, also spoke at length about his role in RPS’ scheme of things.

“My role was if a couple of wickets fall in powerplay, then I have to go in. If the partnership is built, I have to come down because Ben Stokes was down, MS bhai was there. So, mentally I was prepared. I was given this role. Before coming to IPL, I had a plan of striking at a very higher strike rate. But coming here, I was given this role. But I always plan myself in what kind of situation I am going in, I will play accordingly. Luckily everything is coming off except a couple of bad scores prior to this game. But (I am) pretty happy with the way I have contributed and just want to continue doing that in the final as well. They have given the confidence and belief, which helps for a player like me who has missed the IPL last season. So, things are going well for me. So, touch wood, it should continue in the final as well,” said Tiwary.

MI were firmly in control of the game as RPS could only score 121 runs in the first 18 overs after being put in to bat. However, Tiwary and Dhoni turned the tables by hammering 41 runs in the last 2 overs. Tiwary said that the team did not really look back from thereon when asked how the 19^th and 20^th over changed the course of the match.

“The momentum shifted in the last two overs. Initially, when I was batting with Ajinkya (Rahane), at the strategic timeout, the coach and the captain, four of us decided that we can take the total to 160 because we felt that the wicket was pretty dry and it was holding for the spinners and the pacers as well, providing if we execute slower balls and variations in the right spot. We were struggling to get that (runs),” said Tiwary.

“In the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th over, MS bhai played outstanding shots. It was not easy against (Jasprit) Bumrah. But he showed why he is such a highly talented player and (has) so much ability to hit best bowlers in the IPL so far for more than 2-3 sixes in those crucial situations, which turned out to be a very good total and obviously once the score was put up on the board, it was never going to be easy because they had to play shots and our bowlers executed their plans really well. They lost a couple of wickets in powerplay and from thereon, we did not look back and were always in the game from 19^th and 20^th over onwards,” concluded Tiwary.