NEWS
Follow UsFormer India and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Manoj Tiwary has torn into Gautam Gambhir and has claimed that the team India head coach’s ‘PR’ ensured that he took all the credit for KKR’s double-triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during the 2012-14 period.
Under Gambhir, KKR won two IPL titles, and Tiwary was part of the squad that won the title for the first time in the franchise’s history in IPL 2012. That season, Tiwary made 16 appearances for the Knight Riders and amassed 260 runs.
Speaking to News18 Bangla, Tiwary claimed that though KKR’s success was a team effort, with the likes of himself, Sunil Narine and Jacques Kallis contributing, it was Gambhir who ended up taking all the credit.
“Gambhir didn't guide KKR to the title single-handedly as we all performed as a unit,” Tiwary told News18 Bangla, reported NDTV.
“Jacques Kallis, Sunil Narine and I, all contributed to the cause. But who took the credit? There is an environment and PR that allows him to take all the credit.”
Tiwary further labeled Gambhir a ‘hypocrite’ and further claimed that the coaching staff hand-picked by the 43-year-old - for the Indian side - are there just to agree with whatever he says.
“Gautam Gambhir is a hypocrite. He doesn't do what he says. The captain [Rohit] is from Mumbai, Abhishek Nayar is from Mumbai. Rohit has been pushed to the forefront. There is no one to speak for Jalaj Saxena. He performs well but keeps quiet,” Tiwary said.
“What is the use of a bowling coach? Whatever the coach says, he will agree. Morne Morkel came from Lucknow Super Giants. Abhishek Nayar was at Kolkata Knight Riders with Gambhir and the Indian head coach knows that he will not go against his instructions," he added.
Tiwary retired from professional cricket at the end of the previous domestic season. He recently represented India in the 2024 edition of the Hong Kong Sixes.
