In a surprising move, Team India has added Mumbai’s spin-bowling all-rounder Tanush Kotian to their Test squad following the retirement of veteran Ravichandran Ashwin after the Brisbane Test. Kotian will join the squad for the fourth and fifth Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the news on Monday, stating that Kotian will depart for Australia on Tuesday. At the time of his call-up, Kotian was representing Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Ahmedabad.
“The Men’s Selection Committee has named all-rounder Tanush Kotian as an addition to India’s squad for the fourth and fifth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” read the BCCI statement.
Tanush Kotian’s Journey So Far
Tanush Kotian is a rising star in Indian domestic cricket, known for his exceptional skills as an off-spinning all-rounder. He has been a consistent performer for Mumbai, contributing significantly with both bat and ball.
In first-class cricket, Kotian has played 33 matches, taking 101 wickets at an average of 25.70. He boasts three five-wicket hauls and has also proven his batting prowess with two centuries and 13 half-centuries. His consistent performances earned him a place in the India A squad that toured Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Notably, he participated in the second first-class game against Australia A at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Key Achievements
Kotian played a crucial role in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy triumph in the 2023-24 season. His all-round performance—scoring 502 runs at an average of 41.83 and taking 29 wickets at an average of 16.96—earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
India’s Squad for the Fourth and Fifth Tests
India’s updated squad for the remaining Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests includes:
Rohit Sharma (C)
Jasprit Bumrah (VC)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
KL Rahul
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Sarfaraz Khan
Dhruv Jurel (WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Mohammed Siraj
Akash Deep
Prasidh Krishna
Harshit Rana
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Washington Sundar
Devdutt Padikkal
Tanush Kotian
As Kotian steps into the big leagues, he brings with him an impressive domestic record and the promise of bolstering India’s spin-bowling lineup in the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin.
