While Shams Mulani bagged the Player of the Match award, fellow Mumbaikar Tanush Kotian also played a key role in India A’s win against India D in the Duleep Trophy 2024-25 match in Anantapur on Sunday.
India A secured a commanding 186-run victory, but they had to recover from a precarious position in the first innings, with crucial contributions from the two Mumbaikars turning the tide.
Put into bat first at the Rural Development Trust Stadium, India A were reeling at 144/6 when Tanush Kotian, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, joined Shams Mulani on the crease.
The two forged a 91-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Tanush was sent back after a well-made 53 (80b, 6x4, 1x6). Mulani soldiered on to score 89 and take India A to a respectable total of 290.
In response, India D were bundled out for 183 with Khaleel Ahmed and Aaqib Khan taking three wickets apiece. Mulani and Kotian scalped one each.
India A hit back with 380/3 declared in the second innings, courtesy of centuries from Pratham Singh and Tilak Verma, setting an improbable target of 488 for victory.
Both Mulani and Kotian exploited the wicket on the final day on Sunday, taking seven wickets between them, to dismiss India A for 301 runs with their spin bowling. Mulani took 3/117 in 29 overs while Tanush Kotian managed 4/73 in 21 overs.
Tanush’s wickets in the second innings included centurion Ricky Bhui and he ended up with a match haul of 5/95 in 33 overs to go with his fifty.
Tanush Kotian gets the centurion! 🙌
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 15, 2024
A fantastic low catch in the slip by Riyan Parag 👌
Ricky Bhui departs after a brilliant century. India A need 3 more wickets for a win.#DuleepTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Follow the match ▶️: https://t.co/m9YW0Hu10f pic.twitter.com/W9X4lowCVF
Bhui’s wicket ended India D’s counterattack with Kotian adding two more wickets – Saurabh Kumar (22) and Harshit Rana (24) to go with his Saransh Jain (5) from earlier.
Now out of contention for the title, India D were at 220/4 at one stage before Mulani dismissed Sanju Samson, who went on the attack to score 40 (45b, 3x4, 3x6). Tanush then got into the act with the next four wickets before Riyan Parag picked up the 10th wicket.
India A remain in the title race with six points. But they will need a favourable outcome against India C, who lead the Duleep Trophy standings with nine points, in their next match on September 19.