Mumbai spinner Tanush Kotian continued to excel in first-class cricket, scoring his 17th half-century in the format on Friday (September 5).
Tanush Kotian helps rescue West Zone with fighting half-century
In the second semi-final of the 2025 Duleep Trophy, West Zone skipper Shardul Thakur chose to bat first on day one (September 4). His side were rocked early as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harvik Desai were dismissed inside four overs to leave them 10-2.
2nd Semi-Final, West Zone vs Central Zone
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored the innings, even as Aarya Desai (39), Shreyas Iyer (25) and Shams Mulani (18) all came and went. West were still in a spot of bother at 179-5, when Mulani fell.
That wicket brought Mumbai's Tanush Kotian to the crease. With Kotian for company, Gaikwad went on to complete a century, and eventually score 184 in the starring performance of the game so far.
Their stand for the sixth wicket was worth 148 runs, and well and truly steered West Zone clear of danger. Kotian contributed 53 to that partnership, his 17th first-class half-century. Kotian ended day one unbeaten on 65, and then held up an end as Shardul Thakur attacked to contribute 64 to a seventh-wicket partnership of 84.
Read more: Duleep Trophy 2025 semi-finals: Round-up of all action from day one
He was eventually dismissed for 76, bowled by left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, ten short of the 2000-run mark in first-class cricket. Kotian also has two first-class centuries, both unbeaten, to go with his 17 fifties.
Who is Tanush Kotian?
Primarily an off-spinner, Kotian's all-round credentials in first-class cricket have only grown over the past two seasons. Now 26, he could well be seen as a viable successor to R Ashwin in India's Test squad (although Washington Sundar retains that place for now).
Kotian was the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy Player of the Season, with 502 runs and 29 wickets in 10 matches as Mumbai won the title. He was selected for India A's shadow tour of Australia during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and called up to the senior squad after Ashwin retired midway through the series.
He was also in action for the A team against England Lions earlier this summer, making an impressive unbeaten 90 in the second match of the series.
Tanush Kotian - record in first-class cricket
| Matches | Runs | Bat Avg | 100s | Wickets | Bowl Avg | 5WI |
| 39* | 1990 | 44.22 | 2 | 113 | 25.93 | 3 |
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