'I am more equipped now' - Tanush Kotian after India Test snub

Tanush Kotian was added to India's Test squad during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in December 2024 following Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement mid-series. Nearly two years on, the Mumbai off-spinner has yet to make his Test debut. He has watched other spin-bowling allrounders such as Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain earn their Test caps earlier in 2026, a development that has kept him focused on refining his craft.

Kotian has worked extensively with former India spinner Sunil Joshi at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and former India and Mumbai batter Jatin Paranjape in Mumbai to develop new technical skills. He was also part of India's touring squad as a net bowler during the recent Sri Lanka tour. Speaking about his evolution as a cricketer, Kotian reflected on his readiness for international cricket.

"I am more equipped [now] and every year is something special for me. I bring something and I try it directly in the games, but I feel that I am confident. I have that four-five years' experience now. So, I have evolved a lot," Kotian said as quoted by ESPN.

The spinner has been working on his use of the crease and variations to trouble batters across different angles. He explained his technical improvements in detail, saying he has been focusing on how to bowl from different positions relative to the stumps and how to adjust his approach for both right-handed and left-handed batters. Kotian has also been developing new skills with the new ball, including the arm ball, which he first used in the Duleep Trophy.

"I have been using the crease now really well with the angles, bowling over the wicket, around the wicket for righty as well as for the lefty [batters]," Kotian said.

In the Duleep Trophy quarter-final, West Zone captain Ruturaj Gaikwad asked Kotian to open the bowling against North Zone. Although he did not find immediate success with the new ball, Kotian struck when it was 48 overs old in consecutive overs, finishing with 4 for 72 in the first innings and 4 for 46 in the second innings. In the second innings, he removed left-hand batter Ayush Doseja for the second time, this time with the new ball in his first over.

Kotian currently has 146 first-class wickets at an average of 27.19 since his debut in December 2018. He has appeared in the Duleep Trophy four times over the last five seasons and has scored a half-century and century in the Irani Cup. He was also part of a SMAT-winning squad two years ago with an economy rate of 7.44 in a high-scoring tournament.

IPL platform and domestic focus

The spinner's IPL experience remains limited. He has played just one IPL match, when in the 2024 edition he was drafted into the Rajasthan Royals squad as a replacement for the injured Jos Buttler to open the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Kotian went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega-auction in Saudi Arabia. Kotian believes the IPL remains a crucial platform for gaining visibility among selectors.

"Most of the players [we] are seeing, the exposure they are getting from IPL and they are getting picked for the Indian team, that is a platform," Kotian said.

He acknowledged that performing and getting noticed in the IPL is a different challenge altogether. Despite missing out on Test selection so far, Kotian remains focused on his domestic performances and the opportunities ahead.

"Because I have been doing that, I have that mindset to perform in bowling and batting, both aspects, whether in the pressure situation or if the team is in a good situation. But I think for me, it's better to go out there and give my best each and every inning. And score how much I can and take wickets for the team as much as I can," Kotian said.

Mumbai will begin their Ranji Trophy season against Chandigarh at home on October 11, 2026. Kotian had his sights set on making the trip to New Zealand, where India were scheduled to play two Tests in the second half of November 2026, and then the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series early in 2027. He was determined to use the domestic season to press his case for international selection.