Despite yet to prove his T20 prowess, Tanush Kotian is stuck in a typical Indian cricket all-rounders’ quagmire: whether he is a batting all-rounder or a spin bowling-all-rounder. While the offie insists he weighs both the departments equally, the national selectors have often treated him in the latter category.

Kotian — with his career-best career-best figures in Mumbai’s emphatic 10-wicket win over Haryana — served the selectors yet another reminder to be considered for the Test squad against Australia early next year.

“I don’t know about BGT (Border-Gavaskar Trophy), that’s up to the selectors,” Kotian said, adding he was not ruffled over Saransh Jain having been preferred over him for the tour of Sri Lanka earlier in the year.

Never had Kotian bowled more than 65 overs in a match. To bowl in good areas consistently was as much a relief for him as his maiden 10-wicket match haul.

“I was waiting for this opportunity. I was trying to bowl as much as I could. This is the first time I have bowled so much in a match. I am giving the captain confidence that I can bowl long spells and can get wickets as well.”

Even before the season began, Kotian had stressed on having worked from exploring different angles and variations. He showcased it in plenty, bowling around the wicket consistently. Three of his eight wickets — Parth Vats, Ajith Chahal and Aman Kumar — came while operating from around the wicket.

Kotian elaborated on the bowling tips he received from Nathan Lyon during his brief stint with India’s Test squad in Australia in 2024-25. “(In Australia), you get extra bounce, so Lyon guided me on how can I bowl more over-spin balls. Also with the run-up and how to use the over-spin. Whatever I learnt there, I am working on that and working with seam positions and variations”.