Mumbai’s star allrounder, Tanush Kotian, has been selected as Ravichandran Ashwin’s replacement in India’s Test squad for the fourth and fifth matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kotian, a right-arm offspin-bowling allrounder, will head to Melbourne on Tuesday, following Ashwin’s retirement at the conclusion of the third Test in Brisbane. Kotian has been a pivotal figure for Mumbai in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Fourth Test Crucial in a Tied Series
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series currently stands at 1-1, with the critical fourth Test starting on Thursday. Kotian is expected to serve as a backup to spinners Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, given Axar Patel’s unavailability.
Kotian’s Impressive First-Class Record
At just 26 years old, Tanush Kotian boasts a remarkable record in first-class cricket, having played 33 matches with 101 wickets at an average of 25.70. As an allrounder, he has also demonstrated his prowess with the bat, amassing 1525 runs across 47 innings at an average of 41.21. His tally includes two centuries and 13 fifties.
Kotian’s recent contributions on the India A tour of Australia, where he scored 44 runs and picked up one wicket in the lone match he played, underline his potential at the international level.
Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy Hero
Kotian’s exceptional performances in domestic cricket have garnered attention. He was instrumental in Mumbai’s 2023-24 Ranji Trophy triumph, accumulating 502 runs at 41.83 and capturing 29 wickets at 16.96, earning him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. Kotian was the only cricketer in the season to achieve the impressive double of 500 runs and 25 wickets.
In the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, Kotian has featured in two of Mumbai’s matches, registering 12 wickets at an average of 16.66. Though his batting opportunities have been limited, he made headlines with a stellar performance during the Irani Cup in October, scoring 64 and an unbeaten 114, both coming from the lower order.
A Promising Future in India’s Test Setup
As selectors look toward the future, Kotian and Manav Suthar—a 22-year-old left-arm spinner from Rajasthan—are considered the next-generation allrounders for India’s Test team. On the other hand, Saurabh Kumar, aged 31, appears to have slipped behind in the pecking order. Both Kotian and Suthar had opportunities on the Australia tour with India A, each playing one game.
India’s Squad for the Fourth and Fifth Tests
India’s Test squad for the remaining matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is as follows:
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- KL Rahul
- Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammed Siraj
- Akash Deep
- Prasidh Krishna
- Harshit Rana
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Washington Sundar
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Tanush Kotian
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Kotian’s Journey from Domestic Cricket to the International Arena
Tanush Kotian’s journey, from the streets of Vikhroli to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), is nothing short of inspirational. His incredible performances in domestic circuits and his resilience on international tours have laid a strong foundation for his selection into India’s Test team.
As the cricketing world watches, Kotian is all set to bring his allround game to the Test stage, representing India’s strength and depth in the cricketing realm.
