Mumbai all-rounder Tanush Kotian is reportedly (via Sportstar) set to join Team India as Ravichandran Ashwin’s replacement for the remainder of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. According to Sportstar, Kotian will leave for Australia on December 24 to join the squad ahead of the highly anticipated Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Impressive Domestic Form
The 26-year-old Kotian has been in stellar form in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, taking 29 wickets at an average of 16.96 and scoring over 500 runs, playing a crucial role in Mumbai’s title-winning campaign. His all-round capabilities earned him a spot in the India A team that toured Australia earlier this year. Although he played only one match during the tour, he contributed 44 runs and picked up a wicket against Australia A.
First-Class Record
- Matches: 33
- Runs: 1525
- Batting Average: 41.21
- Hundreds & Fifties: 2 & 13
- Wickets: 101
- Bowling Average: 25.70
- Strike Rate: 46.4
- Five-wicket Hauls: 3
Standing tall at 6 feet, much like Ashwin, Kotian’s off-spin bowling generates significant bounce, making him a viable option on Australian pitches. His ability to contribute with the bat further strengthens his case as an all-rounder.
Axar Patel Snub?
Kotian’s selection raises questions about Axar Patel’s future in the Test setup. Axar, once viewed as a natural successor to Ashwin and Jadeja, has been overlooked, sparking discussions about his position in the squad.
India’s Squad for Boxing Day Test
- Batsmen: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Wicketkeepers: Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel
- All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Tanush Kotian (likely)
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep
With Kotian’s inclusion, India will look to maintain their strong record at the MCG as they aim to extend their unbeaten streak at the venue and secure a series-defining victory in the Boxing Day Test.