All eyes on Tiwary as Bengal take on Bihar

Kolkata: The spotlight will be on Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary when they take on Bihar in their final Ranji Trophy match of the season at the Eden Gardens here from Friday. Already out of contention for a knockout berth, Bengal will nevertheless look for a win to give the veteran player a fitting farewell. Tiwary had announced that this would be the last season of his career and although he is set to bow out with the regret of not having been able to win a Ranji Trophy crown, he will surely look back at his cricketing days with a lot of pride.
“Our main aim will be to finish the campaign with a victory, Tiwary said on Thursday. “No doubt it will be an emotional game for me, but I don’t want the focus to be entirely on me. Rather, it should be on the team to do well. It has been a long journey, and I want to end it on a high.”
With Mukesh Kumar returning to boost the bowling, Bengal will start as the favourites. The medium-pacer was released from the Indian team, currently playing the third Test of the ongoing series against England in Rajkot. “Mr Mukesh Kumar has been released from the India squad for the third Test against England in Rajkot,” the BCCI said in statement “He will join his Ranji Trophy team, Bengal, for the team’s next fixture before linking up with Team India in Ranchi.”
Mukesh will join the likes of Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal and Mohammad Kaif in the attack. With Shahbaz Ahmad also in good form, the Bihar batters have their task cut out.
The formidable Bengal batting lineup might prove too strong for Bihar, who are languishing at the bottom of Group B. Still looking for their first win of the tournament, Bihar have managed just five points from six games so far. They have lost three and drawn three matches.
The likes of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Kumar Gharami and Anustup Majumdar will be fired up. Yet, it will be Tiwary who would be extra motivated.
Coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla had some special words for the veteran. “I congratulate Manoj for having an amazing career,” he said. “I had witnessed Manoj playing his first match, and now it has come down to the last. Above all, I would want the team to win and finish the campaign on a high.”
Having crossed the 10,000-run milestone in first-class cricket earlier this season, Tiwary would surely look to go out with a bang.