IPL 2024: Sanju Samson reveals weird reason behind sending No. 10 Tanush Kotian as opener

Tanush Kotian smashed 24 runs off 31 balls on his IPL debut.

Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) captain Sanju Samson has opened up on sending lower order batter Tanush Kotian as opener along with Yashasvi Jaiswal during the run-chase of 148 runs against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the match 27 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, on April 13.

After winning the toss and electing to field first, RR captain Sanju Samson announced inclusion of Rovman Powell and Tanush Kotian into the playing XI replacing injured duo of Jos Buttler and Ravi Ashwin.

However, while chasing 148, RR took a step to promote Kotian to top of the order. However, the move didn’t pay off, as he just scored 24 off 31 balls, including three boundaries at a strike rate of 77.41, before spinner Liam Livingstone cleaned him up. It is to be noted that the all-rounder usually bats in the No. 10 and 11th positions for his domestic side, Mumbai.

I just wanted to try him up the order: Sanju Samson on experimenting with Kotain as an opener

After winning the thrilling clash by three wickets against Punjab, RR skipper Samson opened up on promoting Kotian to top of the order to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Samson stated that Kotian is impressing everyone in the nets, and the right-handed batter also had an impressive run in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 with Mumbai. Samson further added that he didn’t want to disturb team balance and Buttler would return in the next game, that’s why he promoted Kotian up the order.

“Tanush is an interesting youngster. He came in as an all-rounder, he had a fabulous Ranji Trophy season with Mumbai and he’s been performing well. He’s been impressing all the coaching staff and everyone in the nets. We had a proper, settled batting order after the openers, we didn’t want to unsettle it and then bring someone up for just one game. Jos is almost ready for the next game, so we just wanted to try him up the order,” Sanju Samson said during the post-match presentation.

How did Tanush Kotian make it into the Rajasthan Royals squad for the IPL 2024?

After Royals’ star leg-spinner Adam Zampa pulled out of the 17th edition of the IPL due to personal reasons, Kotian, who had a stellar Ranji Trophy 2023-24 campaign for Mumbai with both bat and ball, joined the team as replacement for his base price of 20 lakh rupees.

“Tanush Kotian, who recently made solid all-round contributions as Mumbai won the 42nd Ranji Trophy title, joins RR for his base price of INR 20 Lac. He has represented Mumbai in 23 T20s, 26 First-Class games and 19 List A matches,” read the statement from IPL.

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