Tanush Kotian of Mumbai Joins National Squad for Melbourne Test: BCCI Announcement
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New Delhi/Mumbai, Dec 23 (NationPress) Tanush Kotian, an off-spin all-rounder from Mumbai, has made a surprising entry into the Indian cricket team as an additional player for the Boxing Day Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday.
Earlier today, sources informed IANS that Kotian, who is currently competing for Mumbai in the league stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Ahmedabad, will leave for Australia on Tuesday afternoon.
“Axar Patel was slated to travel to Australia, but with the arrival of his first child, he has returned home, prompting the request for Kotian to join the Test team in Melbourne,” the source explained.
Kotian is recognized as one of the leading off-spin all-rounders in the Indian domestic scene. He was previously part of the India A squad that toured Australia for two four-day matches in Mackay and Melbourne prior to the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which is currently tied at 1-1.
The BCCI later confirmed the news in a statement released by Joint Secretary Devajit Saikia.
“The Men’s Selection Committee has included Tanush Kotian as an addition to India’s roster for the fourth and fifth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“The off-spinner from Mumbai has participated in 33 first-class matches, claiming 101 wickets at an average of 25.70. Alongside his bowling prowess, Kotian has achieved three five-wicket hauls and has scored two centuries and 13 half-centuries. He was also part of the India A team that played against Australia A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,” Saikia mentioned in the statement.
Kotian's first call-up to the Test squad follows the retirement of veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from international cricket after the rain-affected third Test concluded in a draw at the Gabba, Brisbane. He will now serve as one of the three spin-bowling all-rounder options for India, alongside Washington Sundar's off-spin and Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin. While Sundar played in the first Test in Perth, Jadeja participated in the third match of the series in Brisbane.
During the 2023/24 Ranji Trophy season, Kotian secured 29 wickets across 10 matches at an average of 16.96. He also scored 502 runs, including five half-centuries and one century, earning the title of Player of the Tournament in Mumbai's 42nd Ranji title victory.
In total, Kotian has played 33 first-class matches, accumulating 2,523 runs at an average of 41.21, while taking 101 wickets at an average of 25.7, which includes three five-wicket hauls. In Monday’s Group C match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Kotian was named Player of the Match after an impressive all-round performance, taking 2-38 and scoring 39 not out off 37 balls to lead Mumbai to a three-wicket win.
India’s squad for the fourth and fifth Tests in Australia 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, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, and Tanush Kotian.
