For Manoj Tiwary, Tuesday was an opportunity to celebrate. The Bengal captain’s unbeaten 201 also sent a timely reminder to his critics after his team’s unimpressive showing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Manoj admitted that he had been under pressure to deliver. His innings, however, has put Bengal in a position of strength at close on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match against Madhya Pradesh at the Eden.

“There were a lot of emotional moments… My mother was at the ground, my son’s name Yuvaan was embossed on the bat,” Manoj said later.

“This is for my critics, the ones who don’t like me or my batting. Hope they won’t want me dropped again. If they still want to drop me, I have nothing to say…” Tiwary, who will be celebrating his 33rd birthday on Wednesday, said.

“I was determined to score... There was talk in the team about the need to score runs and since (Arun) Lalji has been with the team, he stressed on the need to get big hundreds... It was also reminded at the team huddle before the day’s play that a double hundred is needed.

“The big hundreds weren’t coming of late and so I was determined... I wanted to make it big if not dismissed in the 50s or 60s,” he said.

Manoj said that the clenched fist and the pointing of bat towards the CAB Club House weren’t meant for anyone. “The celebration was for myself... Hope the criticism will stop now.

“I always speak straight and speak for the team... But I have landed in controversies at times... I can be diplomatic, but that is not my nature,” he explained.

He said the uncertainty pumped him up, instead of making him bogged down. “I’ve been playing for 14-15 years… I took it as a challenge. Certainly, there was pressure. But I am relieved now… So, it felt sweeter,” said Manoj.

The skipper rated his 210 versus Mumbai as special while this one a close second. “This will come within the top 3. The 210 vs Mumbai here will remain special... This is special too and at No. 2 since it came under a lot of pressure,” Manoj said.

Manoj admitted that the circumstances in the last few days were a bit disturbing. “I slept peacefully, there was no question about that… But I am also a human being. Family and friends were disturbed… Nonetheless, I will celebrate (my birthday) at home,” he signed off.

Meanwhile, the CAB has written to the BCCI to allow Mohammed Shami to play their next home match against Kerala from November 20. Shami is not part of the T20I squad.