Tanush Kotian turns to Sunil Joshi and Jatin Paranjape in bid to crack India A as Mumbai open Ranji Trophy campaign

MUMBAI: Set to embark on another domestic season in which he desperately needs to make a mark to break into the Indian team, Mumbai's off-spinning all-rounder Tanush Kotian has been leaving no stone unturned in his preparation. The 27-year-old has been working with former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi — currently the spin bowling coach at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru — and at former India batter Jatin Paranjape's VPCC coaching academy in Mumbai to improve his skills.

"I have been working on my skills with Sunil Joshi sir at CoE and also at the VPCC with Jatin Paranjape sir. I think this game will be crucial for me to show my performance and get into the (India A) side," Kotian told reporters at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, a day before Mumbai launch their campaign in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy against Chandigarh.

New angles, new variations — and the new ball

Kotian explained that he has been trying to employ various angles and bowl at different speeds, and — as he showed in the Duleep Trophy in August — also bowl with the new ball. Opening the bowling in the first innings for West Zone against North Zone at the CoE, he took four for 72, followed it up with four for 46 in the second innings, and finished the match with eight wickets for 118 runs, even though West Zone went down by 52 runs.

"I have been using the crease now really well with the angles, bowling over the wicket, round the wicket against the right-handers and left-handers. I'm also working on which pace is effective on [which] wicket. And with the variations, I've developed my arm ball and the straighter one during practice, and have worked on my ability to bowl with the new ball. I bowled in the Duleep Trophy with the new ball. So, I think it will be more effective when I get the new, hard ball to work with on a surface," Kotian explained.

Fired up by top-order criticism

One criticism that has followed Kotian is that he does not pick up enough top-order wickets. The off-spinner, though, pushed back firmly.

"I think I have done a lot. I have taken a lot of top-order wickets, and I have a lot of fivers also in my bag. So, I don't have to prove to anyone that I have done well. But I try to keep it simple and give my best in them," he answered.

Brushing aside an underwhelming last Ranji season

It did not help Kotian that the previous Ranji Trophy season was an underwhelming one. India A duty and an elbow injury meant he could manage only three matches for Mumbai, in which he took nine wickets at 32.77. In the quarterfinal at MCA-BKC against Karnataka, Mumbai's bowlers failed to defend 325 in the fourth innings, with Kotian returning two for 77 in 21 overs.

Kotian, however, refused to view that outing as a failure.

"No, it wasn't disappointing. According to me, I bowled very well. I bowled 21 overs in that game. Catches were dropped (off my bowling), but that's a part of the game. I injured my elbow in the third match. After that, I wasn't even going to play the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals, but it was the team's call that they needed me in the knockouts. So, I took that call too. The team was pushing me to play. So, I tried and played. It didn't show in the wickets column, but I think I bowled top-class stuff. If we had grabbed a few opportunities, I would have taken a fiver," he said.

Still waiting for the India cap

Kotian first grabbed the selectors' attention during the 2023-24 Ranji season. As Mumbai went on to win the title, he was named player of the tournament for scoring 502 runs at an average of 41.83 and taking 29 wickets at 16.96. Yet he is still to make his Test debut, though he did spend time in the India dressing room after being added to the squad for the final two Tests of the 2024-25 tour of Australia.

It must have stung the boy from Vikhroli that Madhya Pradesh's 33-year-old off-spinner Saransh Jain was preferred to him for India's Test tour of Sri Lanka in August. But masking his disappointment well, Kotian offered an apt response when asked about not being picked for India despite consistent shows with bat and ball over the last few seasons.

"I am performing well, but there is no disappointment. I see how I can win my team (matches) by performing well in each and every match. And wherever I get an opportunity, whether it is India A or the Duleep Trophy, I look to showcase the talent that I have. Like in fielding, I try to give my 100 percent. So, I try to stick to my expectations. And if I get a chance, I will wait for that opportunity and when that opportunity comes, I will try to grab it," he said.

Recently, he did well for India A against Australia A as well. With Mumbai opening their Ranji Trophy campaign against Chandigarh at the Wankhede, Kotian knows the stage is set for him to state his case once again.

"It's important for me to keep performing in each and every game. I have been doing that. I have that mindset to perform in bowling and batting both aspects for the team, in any situation. I look to go out there and give my best each and every innings, and score and take wickets for my team as much as I can," Kotian signed off.