Tanush Kotian, the accomplished off-spin bowling allrounder from Mumbai, has been selected to replace R Ashwin in India's squad for the upcoming fourth and fifth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Following Ashwin's retirement after the conclusion of the third Test in Brisbane, Kotian is scheduled to depart for Melbourne on Tuesday. Currently, he is in Ahmedabad as a member of the Mumbai team participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The stakes are particularly high as the fourth Test commences on Thursday, with the five-match series currently tied at 1-1. Kotian’s inclusion is expected to strengthen the bowling line-up, serving as a backup to spinners Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, especially in light of Axar Patel's reported unavailability.
At 26 years old, Kotian has a noteworthy first-class record, having played 33 matches and capturing 101 wickets at an impressive average of 25.70. His batting performance complements his bowling prowess, with 1,525 runs scored over 47 innings at an average of 41.21, featuring two centuries and 13 half-centuries. Notably, he participated in the recent India A tour of Australia where he played a single match, contributing 44 runs while also taking one wicket.
Kotian's standout contribution to Mumbai's Ranji Trophy campaign in the 2023-24 season was instrumental, as he scored 502 runs with an average of 41.83 and took 29 wickets at an exceptional average of 16.96. His remarkable performance earned him the Player-of-the-Tournament award, making him the only player in the season to achieve the significant double of accumulating over 500 runs and taking more than 25 wickets.
Although he has only played in two out of Mumbai's five matches in the ongoing Ranji Trophy due to international commitments, Kotian has made a significant impact. He has claimed 12 wickets at an average of 16.66, although his batting has not yielded the same success, with only 30 runs in three innings. Nevertheless, his recent form includes a standout performance in the Irani Cup, where he scored 64 and an unbeaten 114 while batting at No. 8, and also contributed by taking three wickets during his bowling stint.
Both Kotian and Manav Suthar, a talented 22-year-old left-arm spin-bowling allrounder from Rajasthan, are viewed as promising prospects for India's Test squad. Saurabh Kumar, a 31-year-old player from Uttar Pradesh, appears to have fallen behind in this competitive race. Each of them had brief appearances during the India A tour of Australia, adding to their credentials as potential fixtures in the national side.
As the Test series progresses, the selection of Tanush Kotian not only reinforces the depth of India's cricketing talent but also highlights the emphasis placed on strong allround talents capable of contributing effectively with both bat and ball. The forthcoming matches present an important opportunity for him to showcase his skills on a global stage, continuing the legacy of Indian cricket and its penchant for producing world-class players.
For the fourth and fifth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India's squad is as follows:
Rohit Sharma (captain)
Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
KL Rahul
Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper)
Sarfaraz Khan
Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper)
Ravindra Jadeja
Mohammed Siraj
Akash Deep
Prasidh Krishna
Harshit Rana
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Washington Sundar
Devdutt Padikkal
Tanush Kotian
As anticipation builds around the upcoming Tests, cricket enthusiasts across India are eager to witness how Kotian will contribute to the team’s performance on the field. His allround capabilities could play a pivotal role in the series' outcome, and fans are hopeful that he will rise to the occasion and add to the rich tapestry of Indian cricket history.