ON a day which was all about Mumbai completing the formalities to seal a Ranji Trophy semi-final spot, it was their no. 10 and 11 batsmen who entered the record books by hitting hundreds to rub salt into Baroda's wounds. On the final day at the MCA-BKC ground, Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande became only the second numbers 10 and 11 batsmen in First-Class history to record tons in the same innings. Their stand of 232 for the 10th wicket was one run short of being the biggest stand for the last wicket in the Ranji Trophy. Mumbai had started the day at 379 for 9 with Kotian and Deshpande at 32 and 23 respectively. Baroda, who were almost out of it already, trailing by 415, would have hoped to have a bat before too long, but that was not to be. The last pair did the basics right by respecting the good balls and punishing the bad ones. Kotian later said that he was speaking to Deshpande, who began his career as a batsman, about picking bowlers they could go after. Tremendous Tanush 💪 Mumbai's Tanush Kotian played a brilliant knock of 120* coming in at No.10 against Baroda, stitching the 2nd highest 10th wicket partnership (232) in the history of #RanjiTrophy with Tushar Deshpande 👌 Watch 📽️ his superb knock🔽@IDFCFIRSTBank | #MUMvBDA pic.twitter.com/y3PYWkXrSv — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 27, 2024 “Singles were anyway coming easily. So the plan was to defend and when they bring the field up, we will charge them. We waited for the right balls and respected the good ones. We kept talking to each other and kept communicating till we reached our hundreds,” Kotian said after the day's play. Deshpande said the pair never thought of the records they could rewrite. “We got to know much later in the innings (about closing in on the record of the biggest 10th-wicket partnership). We were not thinking about it and playing it ball by ball. The pitch was helpful for batting. My father always tells me that I have the ability to become an all-rounder, and if I can apply myself and play with a straight bat, I can score runs,” he adds. Terrific Tushar 🔥 Mumbai's Tushar Deshpande hit a blistering 123 (129) against Baroda in the 2nd innings to register the highest individual score by a No. 11 batter in #RanjiTrophy 🙌 Relive 📽️ his brilliant knock 🔽@IDFCFIRSTBank Scorecard ▶️ pic.twitter.com/S8RjqkNXjr — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 27, 2024 Kotian and Deshpande took the Mumbai second-innings total to 569, and gave Baroda a notional target of 605 to chase in two sessions. Baroda reached 121 for 3 as the game ended in a draw. Mumbai cruised to the semi-finals where they host Tamil Nadu later this week. The century was a box ticked for Kotian after twice getting out in the 90s. “I had 10 fifties before this game and it was a crucial innings for me because of the timing. I was telling myself ke karna hai yeh ab (I have to do it). I was talking to Tushar and planning on which bowler we could go after. I know since my junior days that I can bat in any situation,” he explained. Kotian reached his century first in 115 balls and remained unbeaten on 120. His innings had 10 fours and four sixes while Despande scored 123 off 129 balls, before being caught in the deep. His innings was studded with 10 fours and eight sixes. Brief Scores: Mumbai 384 & 569 (Tanush Kotian 120 not out, Tushar Deshpande 123; Bhargav Bhatt 7 for 200) drew with Baroda 348 & 121 for 3 (P Moliya 54).
