For the 5 match series Test against England in June, India needs a new spin all-rounder. This challenge has however become even greater since Ravichandran Ashwin has retired. However a 26 year old Tanush Kotian from Mumbai has grabbed the attention of the selectors after performing brilliantly in the Ranji Trophy. As of now captain Rohit Sharma and selection committee head Ajit Agarkar are contemplating on allowing him to don the blues for the test match against England.
Ashwin was a very good spinner for Team India and also provided valuable runs as a lower order batsman. Tanush Kotian is also well suited to this role. He helped the team in the quarter finals against Haryana in Ranji Trophy by making an unbeaten 85 runs. He has also scored centuries of 120 and 89 against Tamil Nadu. He has also shown his ability in bowling by taking 5 wickets against Baroda and 4 wickets in an over against Meghalaya.
The English team is also very aggressive in their style of play referred to as ‘baseball’ and they are likely to employ the same approach on the Indian soil. Depending on the situation, Tanush’s off spin and batting lower down the order may come in handy for India. The England team is known for its aggressive ‘baseball’ game, and their same strategy will be a big challenge on India’s home grounds. In such a situation, Tanush’s off-spin bowling and lower order batting ability can prove useful for India.
Tanush’s Ranji Trophy Performance
When Mumbai team was struggling against Haryana at the score of 99/7, Tanush took the team to a respectable score of 219 with the help of 11 fours. Apart from this he showed consistency in his batting by scoring 62 runs against Meghalaya and innings of 34 and 26 runs against Jammu and Kashmir. Tanush has shown consistent performance in the Ranji Trophy and due to his performance the selectors are considering him as a strong option for the Test match against England.
According to HDsports sources, Tanush was included in the team for the Australia tour but he did not get a chance to debut. Now he is being seen as a ‘package’ against England, because he is able to adapt to all types of pitches.
Cricket experts also believe that Tanush Kotian should now get a chance in international cricket and should come and show his talent in front of cricket lovers around the world. Former Indian cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra also said, “Tanush has all the qualities of a good Test all-rounder. It would be the right decision to give him a chance against England.” Mumbai coach Amol Majumdar also praised him and said, “In times of crisis, he is adept at creating useful partnerships for the team. This quality makes him special.”
If Tanush gets a chance in the Test series against England, it could prove to be a big turning point for his career. After Ashwin, India needs an all-rounder who can strengthen the team with both ball and bat. Now it remains to be seen whether BCCI gives him a chance or not.
