Tanush Kotian, an off-spin bowling all-rounder from Mumbai, has been selected to replace Ravichandran Ashwin in India’s squad for the fourth and fifth Test matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is a major development for Indian cricket. After the third Test in Brisbane, Ashwin declared his retirement, which allowed the young 26-year-old to take over.
Kotian is scheduled to join the Indian squad in Melbourne on Tuesday before the fourth Test begins on Thursday. The five-match series is intriguingly poised at 1-1. Kotian will serve as a backup to Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, the primary spinners in the squad after Axar Patel was reportedly unavailable
Kotian’s domestic record speaks volumes about his capabilities. In 33 first-class matches, he has taken 101 wickets at an impressive average of 25.70 and scored 1525 runs at 41.21, including two centuries and 13 fifties. His contributions were pivotal in Mumbai’s triumphant 2023-24 Ranji Trophy campaign, where he amassed 502 runs at 41.83 and claimed 29 wickets at a remarkable average of 16.96, earning him the Player-of-the-Tournament award.
Recently, he showcased his prowess during Mumbai’s Irani Cup victory over Rest of India, scoring 64 and an unbeaten 114 from No. 8 and taking three wickets. His performances underline his dual skills, making him an asset to the Test setup.
As Kotian embarks on this new journey, cricket fans eagerly await to see how he seizes this golden opportunity to shine on the international stage.
