Saurashtra batsman Sitanshu Kotak enjoys an elite space in India’s domestic cricket. Starting his Ranji Trophy career in 1992, Kotak has played alongside the likes of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly – with the only thing missing from his CV being an India cap.
Kotak remained the batting mainstay of Saurashtra team for most of his career and was a celebrated veteran before he hung up his boots in 2013 and took up the coaching role with the team.
After spending 22 years in cricket, Kotak is now enjoying his second innings in a new avatar, as assistant coach of the new Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, the Gujarat Lions.
After his retirement, Kotak met Tendulkar twice and cherished that meeting even now.
“I met him twice [after retiring]. Firstly I saw him at the MIG Cricket Club (in Mumbai). He was practicing. I wanted a picture with him as I didn’t have a single picture with him. He was very happy to see me. We exchanged greetings and shared a lot of things,” Kotak told CricketNext in an exclusive interview.
“Second meeting was on the [Indian Premier League] auction day. He came to me with a Mumbai Indians kit as a gift. The kit had his autograph on it. Whenever I see that, I feel proud,” he said.
The veteran of 130 first class matches and above 8000 runs, Kotak never got a chance to play for India, partially because he belonged to an era when it was hard for a batsman to find a place in the Indian batting line-up that included Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
So representing the country was a dream that never come true for Kotak.
He is one of those players best domestic cricketers to never play for India.
“I never stopped and remained focussed on my game. I used to tell myself that if I am destined, I will play for my country some day. But that didn’t happen,” he rued. “To be very honest, I do regret it, but nothing can be done.”
Saurashtra cricketers idolise Kotak the way Mumbai players do Tendulkar.
“It is really kind people think like that. Sachin Tendulkar is a player every cricketer will look up to. He is an admiration and inspiration for all and to me as well. No one can replace him. His aura, commitment, consistency and longevity are irreplaceable. I have seen him from the beginning how he worked on himself,” Kotak said.
Kotak recalled the three instances when he played against Mumbai with Tendulkar in the opposite eleven.
“It was my second year of cricketing career when Saurashtra took on Mumbai, it was the 1993-94 season. Then we played the semi-final in 2008-09 and the 2012-13 final. We have played three games against each other,” Kotak said.
“I still remember my first game. He was already playing for India. He was out of form. He batted for three hours and scored some 12 or 13 runs. I scored 71 in the first innings and 40 in the second.
“We had set a target against Mumbai. The legend, as usual, came up with the goods when his team needed him. He just smashed all our bowlers and scored brilliant 80-odd runs and clinched an outright victory for Mumbai. Such legends do not need practice or net sessions to regain form,” the 43-year-old said.
“Sachin was a gift from god to cricket. It will be absolutely wrong to compare anyone with him. For me, it is a big honour what people says, but I am nowhere near him.”