Always had great respect and admiration for Gautam Gambhir, says Manoj Tiwary

Manoj Tiwary and Gautam Gambhir seem to share a volatile equation with each other. Despite having played together for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League previously, the duo doesn't seem to get along well. In fact, it all started during 2015 Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Bengal at the Feroz Shah Kotla when Delhi's Manan Sharma sent Partha Sarathi Bhattacharjee back to the pavilion. 

Tiwary, surprisingly, came in to bat wearing a cap but just as he took his guard, he suddenly waved to the Bengal dressing room to bring his helmet, just when he learned that he would be facing a fast bowler instead.

However, Tiwary's antics did not go well in the opposition camp, as the Delhi players felt that it was a deliberate time wasting tactic. Sharma and Tiwary entered a mini sledging but Gambhir – who was at first slip was enraged by Tiwary's antics and nearly came to blows with the Bengal skipper, who then retaliated. The duo reignited their hostilities during this year's IPL encounter between RPS and KKR where they were seen exchanging words with each other.

Finally, in an interview with Sports Star Live, the 31-year-old opened up on his equation with Gambhir saying, “I never understood what actually happened between me and Gautibhai.”

“We had good memories, but I don’t know what went wrong (and why was I released). Maybe, the KKR management knows better why they left me out of the team. I always had great admiration and respect for Gauti bhai. I know for a fact that some people were not too happy with our bonding. Maybe, the relationship soured because of that,” he added.

The Bengal batsman also admitted that he had learnt a lot from some of his senior pros, including Gambhir. 

"Listening to them also has its benefits. The thing that these superstars have taught me is how not to get distracted by what the critics or the media are talking about you,” Tiwary concluded.