Kotian (4/72), alongside medium-pacer Tushar Deshpande (4/57), helped West Zone bowl out North Zone for 251 on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here on Sunday. West were 31/2 at stumps.
Kotian’s spell was a study in patience and control. He refused to be distracted when the batters attacked him. The Mumbai allrounder had travelled to Sri Lanka as India’s net bowler ahead of the ongoing Test series, and the experience of bowling to quality batters has surely sharpened him ahead of a busy season.
Having already represented India A and earned a maiden call-up to the senior side, Kotian knows another consistent domestic campaign could bring him closer to the India cap. “I have that one step (in my mind) — to represent India. I have to do better with every opportunity I get. Getting those four wickets or scoring 50s or 100s is what I need to do more. I have been doing that for Mumbai,” said Kotian, who has taken 61 wickets and scored 902 runs in his last three Ranji seasons.
“With the mentality I have, I always think of doing well in both bowling and batting. Selectors have their thing; if they have to select me, they will. I have to take wickets and make runs for my team and do better,” he added.
Kotian’s first three-over spell went wicketless. He got his reward in the 49th over when he dismissed Ayush Doseja. In his next over, he trapped Kanhaiya Wadhawan leg before, reducing North Zone to 155/6. Even when Anshul Kamboj (60) attacked him with a couple of sixes, Kotian was brave enough to continue flighting the ball. Kamboj eventually became his fourth victim.
Deshpande played his part too, removing key batters Ayush Badoni (52) and Kotian’s job, though, is far from over. With West Zone two down, Monday will offer him another opportunity to underline his value as an all-rounder.
VAIBHAV FAILS; GHARAMI & SHAHBAZ SHINE
At the adjacent ground, much of the attention was on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as East Zone took on Northeast Zone. The teenager struck two fours in his six-ball stay but was dismissed in the second over.
The experienced Sudip Gharami, however, made the most of his opportunity, scoring 146 (185b, 25x4, 1x6), while Shahbaz Ahmed was unbeaten on 100 (137b, 9x4, 2x6) as East Zone reached 355/6 at stumps.
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Brief scores:
- North Zone 251 in 66.5 overs (Ayush Doseja 42, Ayush Badoni 51, Anshul Kamboj 60; Tanush Kotian 4-72, Tushar Deshpande 4-57) vs West Zone 31/2 in 10 overs
- East Zone 355/6 in 80 overs (Kumar Kushagra 55, Sudip Gharami 146, Shahbaz Ahmed 100 batting) vs North East Zone.
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