Tanush Kotian must use Test snub as motivation to excel: Sanjay Patil

Tanush Kotian

Just a couple of years ago Mumbai off-spinner Tanush Kotian was picked as R Ashwin's replacement in India's Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. Kotian, 27, however, did not get a chance to make his Test debut. On Tuesday, Kotian missed the bus once again when the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee did not pick him in the squad for the lone Test against Afghanistan, beginning at New Chandigarh on June 6.

Mumbai's chief selector Sanjay Patil insists that Kotian should take this snub positively and enhance his performance. "The national selectors have gone with two left-arm spinners [Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey] and it's understandable. But Tanush should take this snub as a motivation to perform better. He needs to come up with some big performances in domestic cricket to be in contention for that India Test berth," Patil told mid-day on Wednesday.

Sanjay Patil and Nilesh Kulkarni

In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, Kotian had 23 scalps from six matches, but could only manage nine wickets from three games last season. "Being an off-spinner, Tanush needs to take lots of wickets, but in the last two years, he hasn't performed as per expectations. If he wants to represent India in Tests, he needs to be more consistent," added Patil.

Kotian has taken 131 wickets in 44 first-class games and scored 2168 runs so far.

Former India left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni echoed similar feelings and advised Kotian to aim for more fifers. "Tanush needs to keep performing because at the end of the day, everyone looks at how many five-wicket hauls you have or centuries you've scored. If he helps his team to victories by taking wickets, he can still have a chance [to play Tests]," Kulkarni told mid-day.

"I feel there is still enough scope for Tanush because [offie] Washington Sundar has not necessarily made it to the Test team by claiming fifers, but his performance has been consistent. So, Tanush needs to step up and get noticed," Kulkarni added.

131
No. of wickets picked by Tanush Kotian in 44 first-class games, scoring 2168 runs