Kalyani (West Bengal): The IPL snub was "hard to digest", out-of-favour India batsman Manoj Tiwary said after his monumental triple ton in a Ranji Trophy game here on Monday. Tiwary made an unbeaten 303 for Bengal against Hyderabad but, at 34, and given the Indian team's settled look, even this may not be enough for a national comeback. "It was difficult to digest the fact (IPL snub). But that's the reality. Obviously, it feels bad when you see so many youngsters playing and I sit back at home watching. Those shots I could have hit. It's the harsh reality for me," Tiwary said. "The franchise management looked for something different."

Tiwary became only the second player from Bengal, after Devang Gandhi (323), to score a triple ton. He preferred to remain optimistic, urging the selectors to look at his consistency and quality. "At the moment India are winning. It's difficult with the way India are shaping right now. But anything is possible in this world. "Confidence is my strength. I always have to keep hope. Age is just a number for me," the 34-year-old said after his unbeaten knock. Pointing to his 46 against Andhra on a Eden Gardens greentop, Tiwary said selectors often go for individual brilliance rather than seeing the quality of knocks. "It was quite special. Even India Test batsman Hanuma Vihari (23) failed there. If it was difficult for him, then it would have been more difficult for us. it was challenging conditions. So it's about the quality of knocks.