Delhi: Shitanshu Kotak, the veteran Saurashtra batsman, will end his two-decade long first-class career after his side’s Ranji Trophy opener against Rajasthan on his home ground in Rajkot later this month. Kotak, who turns 41 on Saturday, will call time on a career that began against Bombay in December 1992. He has played 129 matches so far and is four short of 8000 first-class runs with an average of 41.64 and 15 centuries.
Kotak told ESPNcricinfo he had thought of retirement after Saurashtra’s run to the Ranji final last season but postponed it in the emotion of the moment. “I felt the team had done so well to reach the final,” he said. “It was a superb achievement and I did not want to take away from it with talk of my retirement.
“But now I feel the time has come to make way for someone young. It is a good time to go. There are so many youngsters around to take the team ahead. I would like to thank the Saurashtra Cricket Association and Mr Niranjan Shah for all the support throughout my career. To have played for so long and not be dropped, I could not have asked for more. I would like to remain associated with the game in whatever manner possible after retirement. I will have a chat with Mr Shah and my association and plan the way forward.”
Saurashtra’s entry into the Ranji final last season is one of Kotak’s most cherished memories. “There are so many things to remember. Last year’s final is of course one of them. Also, Saurashtra winning the domestic one-day championship (in 2007-08) and qualifying for the Elite League from the Plate League.”
When asked if there was any temptation to play one more season after seeing Saurashtra fall at the last hurdle previous season, Kotak said that would always be the case. “That feeling will be there,” he said. “But some day I had to take the call. Some day, it had to come to an end. I will still play for Bharat Petroleum in the Times Shield and league cricket in England. But this is it as far as first-class cricket goes.”
Known for his ability to bat for long periods and stonewall bowling attacks, Kotak was part of Saurashtra’s transformation from a weak side to a unit that is now a force in domestic cricket. He said he had seen the team change completely in the previous two decades. “To think that we now have as many as three people playing for India (Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja and Jaydev Unadkat). It is a tremendous achievement. We have come a long way.”
While Kotak will miss the Saurashtra dressing room, he will get more time to play with his son. Kotak giving throwdowns to the 12-year old was a common sight after the end of a day’s play in Rajkot. “That is definitely a positive outcome. Otherwise, he would have complained I was never able to give him enough time.”
