Manoj Tiwary upbeat about making India's World Cup squad

Manoj Tiwary

Kolkata, Jan 2 - Having already made India's preliminary squad for the World Cup, Bengal cricketer Manoj Tiwary is upbeat of making it to the last 15.

"I feel I can make the cut this time around," Tiwary said at the unveiling of the ICC World Cup Trophy here on Saturday. The quadrennial event will be held in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29.

The 29-year-old was also selected for the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka but was not selected for any match.

Tiwary said he has been performing well for the last few domestic seasons and is practicing hard to make the cut.

"The Australian conditions are different. If I get selected, I would practice with wet tennis balls being bowled to me. I have performed quite well for sometime now and I hope this time I would get to play in the World Cup. The Ranji Trophy is giving me a good platform to practice," said the middle-order batsman.

On Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Test retirement, Tiwary said the dressing room was going to "miss him", and added that he had immense respect for the skipper's decision.

Tiwary feels that Dhoni's exit is a good opportunity for wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha to cement a place in the Test squad.

"Saha should make most of this opportunity," Tiwary said.