Kotian makes a case for Test call-up

Despite yet to prove his T20 prowess, Tanush Kotian is stuck in a typical Indian cricket all-rounder’s quagmire: whether he is a batting all-rounder or a spin-bowling all-rounder. While the spinner insists he weighs both departments equally, the national selectors have often treated him in the latter category.

Kotian – with his career-best figures in an innings and in a match during Mumbai’s convincing win against Haryana – served national selectors yet another reminder to be considered for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad early next year.

“I don’t know about BGT, that’s up to the selectors,” Kotian said, adding he was not ruffled over Saransh Jain having been preferred as the India offspinner for the tour to Sri Lanka.

Never had Kotian bowled more than 65 overs in a match. To bowl in good areas consistently was as much a relief for him as his maiden ten-wicket match haul. “I was waiting for this opportunity. I was trying to bowl as much as I could. This is the first time I have bowled this much in a match. I am giving the captain confidence that I can bowl this much and can get that many wickets as well.”

Even before the season began, Kotian had stressed on having worked from exploring different angles and different variations while bowling. He showcased it plenty, bowling around the wicket consistently. Three of his eight wickets – Parth Vats, Aman Kumar and Ajith Chahal – came while bowling around the wicket.

Kotian elaborated on the bowling tips he received from Nathan Lyon during his brief stint with India’s Test squad in Australia in 2024-25. “(In Australia), you get extra bounce, so how can I bowl more over-spin balls, Lyon guided me. Also, with the run-up and how to use the over-spin. Whatever I learnt there, I am working on that and working with seam positions and variations, so that is helping.”

Stats box

# Kotian’s 8/84 is the best bowling spell by a Mumbai offspinner, bettering Ramesh Powar’s 7/55 against Bengal in 2004-05.

# Kotian’s 8/84 is the best bowling spell by a Mumbai bowler in First-Class cricket since Ankeet Chavan’s 9/23 against Punjab in 2012-13.