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.