The off-spin bowling all-rounder was called up to the Test team as a replacement for R Ashwin during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series Down Under in 2024
Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian during the India ‘A’ match against SA ‘A’ at Bengaluru on Saturday. Pic/PTI
Riding on Mumbai off-spinner Tanush Kotian’s eight-wicket match haul and skipper Rishabh Pant’s 90, India ‘A’ outclassed South Africa ‘A’ by three wickets to win the first unofficial Test in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Kotian, 27, who dismissed SA ‘A’ captain Marques Ackerman (he scored 18 and five) in both innings, received the Player of the Match award for his 4-83 and 4-26 besides a total of 36 runs across both innings. However, Kotian revealed that Pant wanted him to remain unbeaten in the second essay. “I scored 13 in the first innings and got out on 23 in the second. He [Pant] told me that if I finish the match unbeaten, I would be a hero. Later, he said, ‘It’s alright, batsmen get out, but don’t repeat the same mistake again. Try to cash in on the opportunities.’ I got out [to pacer Lutho Simpala] after top-edging a bouncer when we needed around 50 runs to win,” Kotian told mid-day over the phone from Bengaluru on Sunday.
The off-spin bowling all-rounder was called up to the Test team as a replacement for R Ashwin during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series Down Under in 2024. On Sunday, Pant’s words inspired Kotian to work harder. “He [Pant] said my bowling is good and if I can bat well too, I could get selected for Team India. He also guided me on how to bowl to a particular batsman with specific field placements. After every wicket I picked, he motivated me to get another,” added Kotian, who came to bat at No.7 in both the innings.
Kotian feels he is one step closer to getting a chance to play for the national team. “It’s my best performance for India ‘A’. They had very good top-order batsmen. I feel, the more matches I play, and perform consistently, I will get that [India] opportunity. I have to keep performing and be ready for it,” said Kotian, who has claimed 125 scalps and scored over 2000 runs so far in 42 first-class games.
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