Manoj Tiwary criticizes the KKR franchise for failing to promote local talent. Tiwary believes the number of local players in the KKR franchise has decreased over time.
The Kolkata Knight Riders had another disappointing season in IPL 2022, finishing in the bottom half of the table. Last year’s runners-up have been chastise by Bengal’s Minister of State for Sports and Youth, Manoj Tiwary, for not promoting Bengal players.
The Kolkata-based franchise is the league’s third most successful team, having won its first championship in 2012. Manoj Tiwary was a key member of that year’s championship team. However, the former KKR player has questioned the team’s management methods following a lack of players from the Bengal region.
Apart from Tiwary, some of the most prominent West Bengal players to have represented the franchise include former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, Mohammed Shami, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, and Wriddhiman Saha. However, players from the region have been scarce on the team in recent years.
“I, for one, would like to see a change.” I always say that there should be a large number of participants (from Bengal in KKR). So my only question is, if Bengal players can play for those other teams on a regular basis, why can’t they play here? As a result, the management is always dogged by the question mark. They never speak openly either. They remain silent, and this question mark hangs over them,” Manoj Tiwary said on Sports Tak.
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Local players would be supported by fans: Manoj Tiwary
Tiwary, a stalwart of the Ranji side, state that having local players on the team inspires the youth to take up the sport and also brings more passionate supporters to the game because people want to see their region’s players at bigger stages like the IPL. The former Indian cricketer also stated that he will discuss the issue with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and KKR’s Shahrukh Khan.
“In the stadium, local players inspire children.” Fans would want to support their home team. They will always support their team, but if they see a local player in the lineup, they will carry that emotion with them. I will request that our honorable chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, meet with Shahrukh Khan. He is the brand ambassador for West Bengal. “Then we’ll see what happens,” Tiwary added.
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