Manoj Tiwary is an Indian first-class cricketer and politician from West Bengal. A right-handed middle-order batsman and occasional right-arm leg-break bowler, he has had a long association with the Bengal cricket team in domestic cricket, and represented the Indian national cricket team in limited-overs internationals. After his cricketing career, he entered politics in West Bengal as a member of the All India Trinamool Congress.
| Full name | Manoj Tiwary |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 November 1985, Howrah, West Bengal, India |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Bowling style | Right-arm leg break |
| Role | Middle-order batsman |
| Domestic team | Bengal |
| National team | India (ODI and T20I) |
| Political party | All India Trinamool Congress |
Manoj Tiwary was born on 14 November 1985 in Howrah, West Bengal. He came up through age-group cricket in Bengal and was identified early as a promising middle-order batsman in the state's cricket structure. He made his first-class debut for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and developed into one of the team's mainstay batsmen across formats in the domestic circuit.
Tiwary has been a long-serving batsman for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Over the years he has captained the side and contributed several substantial scores in red-ball and limited-overs domestic cricket. He was part of the Bengal squad that reached the Ranji Trophy final in the 2019–20 season, where the team finished as runners-up.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Tiwary represented several franchises during his career, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils, Rising Pune Supergiant and Kings XI Punjab. He was a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad that won the IPL title in 2012.
Tiwary made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India in 2008. He recorded his maiden ODI century against the West Indies in Chennai in December 2011, scoring an unbeaten hundred in a winning cause. He also represented India in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). His international appearances were limited, with much of his career marked by periods of strong domestic form and intermittent national selection.
Manoj Tiwary joined the All India Trinamool Congress and contested the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election from the Shibpur constituency in Howrah district, winning the seat to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). He was subsequently inducted into the West Bengal state ministry, holding portfolios related to youth services and sports during his tenure.
Tiwary is regarded as one of the most prolific batsmen produced by Bengal cricket in the post-2000 era, accumulating a large volume of runs in the Ranji Trophy and contributing to the team's competitiveness over more than a decade. His transition from professional cricket into electoral politics in West Bengal places him among a small group of Indian cricketers who have moved into legislative roles after their playing careers.