Udupi, Oct 18: All-rounder Tanush Kotian got the most memorable birthday gift on Mondaywhen the national junior selection headed by Venkatesh Prasad granted him a place in the India U-19 team for the Asia Cup to be held in Malaysia next month.
Tanush was born and brought up in Mumbai. However, his roots are in coastal Karnataka. His father Karunakar and mother Mallika Kotian hail from Pangala in Udupi district.
Off-spinning all-rounder Tanush was training at the MCA-BKC indoor academy with his West Zone teammates for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy one-day tournament starting October 24 in Akota, when he got the news of his selection.
"Though I performed well for Mumbai in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, I was not expecting to be selected. It was a surprise for me; it's a nice birthday gift," said Tanush, who claimed nine wickets and scored 120 runs in four Vinoo Mankad Trophy matches.
Tanush was grateful to his coaches — VN Sule Guruji Vidyamandir mentor Gopal Koli as well as former India offie Ramesh Powar, but he didn't forget to mention his first coach — his father Karunakar, who played 'A' Division cricket for Shantibhai Seth Memorial CC. Karunakar is now an umpire.
"I used to watch my dad bowling, particularly in tennis ball cricket. He inspired me to play and enjoy this game. He encouraged me to bowl off-spin and concentrate on batting as well. Later on, Koli sir and Powar sir taught me to earn my wickets with different variations," said Tanush, who plays for Dadar Union SC on the Mumbai club circuit.
Karunakar was surprised too. "Looking at his performance, I was sure about his selection in the zonal team, but not the national side. His all-round skills and consistency paid off. The Asia Cup will be a big opportunity for him," he said.
The India U-19 squad members for fourth edition of the Asia Cup cricket to be played in Malaysia from November 9-20 are: Himanshu Rana (Captain), Abhishek Sharma (vice-captain), Atharva Taide, Manjot Kalra, Salman Khan, Anuj Rawat, Harvik Desai, Riyan Parag, Anukul Roy, Shiva Singh, Tanush Kotian, Darshan Nalkande, Vivekanand Tiwary, Aditya Thakare, Mandeep Singh.
Mangaluru, Jan 16: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is holding rallies and meetings and distributing booklets across the country in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, said ABVP National Secretary Harsha Narayan here on Thursday.
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