The 2022-23 Indian domestic cricket season is approaching its conclusion, and one of the standout performers has been Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian. Emerging as the crisis man for the domestic giants, Kotian played a crucial role in holding the team’s batting together while also contributing with crucial wickets.
Despite not being among the top run-scorers or wicket-takers, Kotian’s impact on the team was significant. In a crucial match against Maharashtra, where Mumbai needed the first-innings lead to qualify for the knockouts, Kotian displayed exceptional courage. Walking out to bat with six stitches on his right hand, sustained while attempting a return catch in the first innings, he played a pivotal role in rescuing Mumbai. He was battling with pain but took on the onus on himself to take Mumbai past the first-innings lead.
Speaking to Cricfit about his courageous effort, Tanush Kotian said,
“I was not that confident while walking into bat. But once I started timing the ball well, I got the game’s heat. Then, I started enjoying my batting. I had to do it for my team. I had done it before, so I had the confidence to do it again for my team.”
The all-rounder scored 93 runs, with nine boundaries and a six. However, he was left dejected as he was dismissed by Vicky Otswal, with the first innings score levelled. The game eventually ended in a draw, with neither Mumbai nor Maharashtra qualifying for the knockouts.
Sharing what was going on in his mind before the dismissal, Tanush said,
“I wasn’t thinking about the sweep shot. I was thinking about what the bowler will do. According to the field, I thought he would bowl outside off or a wide delivery. So I just shuffled in and wanted to play in the gap. But he bowled on the stumps, so I thought of just paddling the ball, as he had only mid-wicket and mid-on. I had to tap the ball for a single, so I just tapped the ball, but unfortunately, it went so fine, that it hit the stumps.”
“Didn’t sleep for a few nights, but it was a learning for me,” he added.
View this post on Instagram
In the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, Mumbai finished fourth in Elite Group B. Despite a strong start with thirteen points from two games, a crucial loss against Delhi affected their campaign. Tanush feels that loss cost Mumbai the most. He said,
“Everything went well, but the game against Delhi was crucial, last two games we didn’t get points. Only one point in two games, we lost against Delhi. So that game was very crucial, had we won that game, the table would have been different.”
I play to my strength and back myself: Tanush Kotian
The game against Maharashtra was one of many noteworthy performances by Tanush Kotian. He slammed a six in the final over of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, to win the maiden title for Mumbai. The 24-year-old believes in focusing on his strengths and grabbing the opportunity in crunch situations to make it big.
“I focus on my game, rather than the situation. I play on my strength and back myself to go on. Don’t put much pressure on the situation. Just take a look at how I am connecting the ball, and how I can take the game ahead. I stay in the present and focus on what I can do now. How can I grab this opportunity, and make it big,” said Tanush Kotian.
The Mumbai cricketer finished the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 with 303 runs and 20 wickets. He also took seven wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and ten in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
“I was happy with my performance this year. Had planned a lot before this season, ready to do something big. I had planned how many wickets I would take and will work accordingly. But I got injured in between, didn’t play the Saurashtra game, and also did not bowl in the last game against Maharashtra. Otherwise, the season went well. I was more confident this season. I had individual as well as team plans,” Tanush added.
View this post on Instagram
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
