Despite his credentials as an off-spinning all-rounder, Kotian found himself at the top of the order, a move that drew criticism and raised questions about the team’s strategy.
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Former India batsman Robin Uthappa expressed his bewilderment, stating, “I was dumbfounded in the commentary box when I saw Tanush Kotian walking out to open the batting.What’s the logic? Putting a kid who is playing his first match in the IPL in a situation that he has never been in.”
Echoing Uthappa’s sentiments, former India pacer Zaheer Khan, on Jio Cinema, highlighted the risks involved in such decisions, remarking, “They showed exactly what not to do in a run chase. They sent a No.10 batter to open the innings. He was playing his first game. This surely could have cost them two points.”
Despite the initial skepticism, Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson defended the move, explaining, “He came in as an all-rounder. Had a fabulous Ranji Trophy season. He has been impressing everyone in the nets. We had a proper settled batting order, so we did not want to unsettle it. Jos is almost ready for the next game and we wanted to try him (Kotian) up the order.”
The decision seemed perilous as Kotian struggled to find momentum, playing the slowest knock by a batter facing more than 25 balls this season. However, thanks to an explosive innings by Shimron Hetmyer, Rajasthan Royals clinched a narrow three-wicket victory, averting potential disaster.