Offspin-bowling all-rounder Tanush Kotian has been added to India’s Test squad as a replacement for R Ashwin for the fourth and fifth matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Kotian’s inclusion after Ashwin suddenly decided to retire at the end of the third Test in Brisbane.
Kotian, a 26-year-old off-spinner from Mumbai, has made a name for himself in domestic cricket with stellar performances. He has played 33 first-class matches, claiming 101 wickets at an average of 25.70. His bowling record includes three five-wicket hauls, complemented by his batting prowess, which features two centuries and 13 half-centuries.
The rising all-rounder was part of the India A squad and played in the second first-class match against Australia A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Kotian was instrumental in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy 2023-24 triumph, where he earned the Player of the Tournament award. His standout performance included 502 runs at an average of 41.83 and 29 wickets at an impressive average of 16.96.
India’s updated squad for the fourth and fifth Tests:
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, Tanush Kotian.
