Home
26-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder Tanush Kotian has often helped Mumbai recover from collapses. When Mumbai lost seven wickets for 113 runs in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 quarterfinal against Haryana, Kotian and Shams Mulani came to the Ajinkya Rahane-led side's rescue and helped them steady the ship. Kotian who replaced retired Ravichandran Ashwin during Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 said that he and Mulani consider themselves as "proper batters".
“Batting in the lower order, the situation gets tricky sometimes, but I don’t take the pressure. Our batting is long, so we try to contribute as much as possible. While batting, we don’t think of ourselves as all-rounders but rather proper batters, and likewise while bowling. Even if the wickets have fallen, we take time and try to capitalise against tired bowlers and score runs. That’s what I have learned in higher-level cricket, and I try to replicate that,” Kotian told Sportstar.
Mulani and Kotian shared a 165-run partnership for the eighth wicket from 290 deliveries. Mulani was dismissed by Jayant Yadav. He scored 91 runs from 178 balls. Kotian fell in the 86th over as Sumit Kumar knocked him over with the second new ball. He scored 97 runs from 173 balls including 13 fours.
Kotian recalled how he got the news about maiden Test call-up when Ashwin called time on his Test career.
“I wasn’t thinking about it (India call up). When I played for India A (in Australia, in November), I thought maybe I could get a call-up. I had no idea about R Ashwin’s retirement; I got a call after that,“ Kotian said.
He did not make his Test debut in pace-friendly conditions in Australia but learned how players at international level prepare.
“I learned how seniors prepare their game and how they adapt to situations. The level is very different from here. I saw what I need to do to match that level,” Kotian said.
Kotian on replacing Ashwin
Kotian has big shoes to fill as Ashwin retired as India's second-highest wicket-taker in the format. He does not want to put pressure on himself and intends to give it his best shot.
“I don’t see it as trying to fill into his shoes. He has done tremendously well. I can only try and do whatever the best I can,” he said.
Kotian gets two crucial wickets, Thakur bags six
After scoring 97 runs Kotian and Mulani two wickets each. Kotian's two sclaps were Yash Vardhan Dala and Nishant Sindhu. Despite captain Ankit Kumar's 136-run knock, Haryana were bowled out for 301 as Shardul Thakur claimed six wickets.
ADVERTISEMENT
