Bengal needs a sports psychologist, feels Tiwary

Looking back at Bengal’s journey in this season’s Ranji Trophy, Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament and the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-dayers, Tiwary said his inexperienced colleagues could not make the most of some crucial moments.

Manoj Tiwary was hopeful that the team could take the positives from this season and play according to its potential to win trophies for Bengal in the next season.

Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary feels his team needs the assistance of a sports psychologist in order to be mentally tougher on the field.

Looking back at Bengal’s journey in this season’s Ranji Trophy, Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament and the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-dayers, Tiwary said his inexperienced colleagues could not make the most of some crucial moments.

Bengal lost to Delhi in the Ranji Trophy semifinals, while it made it to the super league stage in the T20s event. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, it could not go beyond the group stage.

“It is more about the mental side of the game. It is also about cricketing intelligence, about game awareness. Since we have a lot of youngsters we understand it is not going to be easy for them in pressure situations. The more these guys will play, the better they will become.

“Lots of shot selection has not been good. Also we have not fielded well through the season, dropped a lot of catches. We have identified the problems...If we don't capitalise on crucial situations, then the result is not going to come,” Tiwary told Sportstar .

According to Tiwary, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) understands what is needed to be done to help the players.

“There have been a lot of one-on-one sessions with the boys. Our coach (Sairaj Bahutule) tells them what needs to be done, how they can be mentally stronger and what they need to do for that... We have been thinking of doing something to become mentally stronger as a team. The association will definitely organise some sessions with a psychologist to get this thing sorted.

“It has already been discussed. After the (Ranji) semifinals, we had a meeting with the selectors, the president and the secretary.”

Tiwary said the young players must learn how to handle certain distractions. “Sairaj bhai has done a great job in keeping the team together. It is not easy in to keep the boys together in Bengal cricket because the mindset of each and every individual is different and there is so much of (media) coverage in Kolkata – whether it is good or bad coverage. At times it affects the players as well.”

Tiwary was hopeful that the team could take the positives from this season and play according to its potential to win trophies for Bengal in the next season.