Manoj Tiwary seems to be in sort of a dilemma after he got the news of his surprise inclusion in the Delhi Daredevils squad for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

The Bengal batsman, who is currently playing in the Irani Cup for the Rest of India, will replace South African AB de Villiers who has been ruled out due to a back injury.

“Oh! It’s a pleasant surprise. I didn’t know it,” Tiwary said when he was informed about his inclusion in the Delhi Daredevils squad. “I will try to make this opportunity count. I was disappointed after I was left out of the squad for the Champions League. Maybe the rub of the green at last has started to go in my favour,” he told The Indian Express from Nagpur.

Playing in the Champions League, to be held from October 8 to 23, would mean he wouldn’t be available for the Challengers Trophy. Missing out on a BCCI tournament, widely considered as the selection trail for the fringe players for the home ODI series against Australia, however has put the 23-year-old in sort of a dilemma.

“Both tournaments are exciting and both of them are important. So, it’s a very difficult question to answer which one I would like to play more. But Champions League, despite being a Twenty20 format, will give me an opportunity to play against some world stars… to perform on world stage. The tournament has an international flavour which helps young cricketers mature faster,” he opined.

... contd.