Saurabh Tiwary sticks with Jharkhand

Saurabh Tiwary, the Jharkhand and Under-19 batsman, has said he will not leave his state to pursue his dreams of playing for India. Though Jharkhand languish in the Ranji Trophy's Plate League, Tiwary vowed to progress up the ranks with determination.

"Dhoni has made it big from here [Jharkhand]. He has shown that cricketers from small towns can also reach the pinnacle," Tiwary told the Kolkata-based Telegraph. "Cricketers who rise from these places usually stay at the top level for long.

"They are not the ones who keep getting in and out of the team. They know the value of performance and retaining their place in the side. They learn the tricks of the trade and how to deal with pressure. They key is to perform."

Tiwary, 19, understood that he would get fewer matches while playing in the Plate League, but said he would make it big. "I've played India U-19 from here and am confident will make the senior grade too."

Tiwary scored 547 runs at 60.77, with a pair of centuries, in this past season's Ranji Trophy. He was part of the World Cup-winning India U-19 side and also played three matches for the Mumbai Indians last season in the IPL.

"Sharing the dressing room with Sachin [Tendulkar] for the Mumbai Indians was awesome," said Tiwary. "It was a dream come true."