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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently named the 26-year-old bowling all-rounder Tanush Kotian as the replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin in the squad for the remaining two matches of the India tour of Australia 2024-25. Indian captain Rohit Sharma shed light on the selection of Kotian over more experienced options like Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, after Ashwin’s unexpected retirement, leaving a void in India’s spin department
Rohit Sharma clarifies the choice to pick Tanush Kotian
Rohit said that Tanush had been in Australia a month ago in the unofficial Test match between Australia A and India A, played just before the start of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and jokingly added that Kuldeep didn’t have a visa. He added that they needed someone quickly, and Tanush was ready and performed well. However, he acknowledged that Tanush has been consistently performing well over the past two years and was brought in as a backup in case they play two spinners in Sydney or Melbourne.
“Tanush was here a month back and Kuldeep does not have a visa. We needed someone to get here as quickly as possible. Tanush was ready and played well here. But jokes apart, he has been doing well over the last two years and we wanted a back-up in case we play two spinners in Sydney or Melbourne,” Rohit said in the press conference.
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Tanush’s selection over Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel
Rohit also mentioned that Kuldeep is not fully fit after undergoing hernia surgery, and Axar couldn’t travel due to recently having a baby. Therefore, Tanush was the best option, and his performance was likely a key factor in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy victory last season.
“Kuldeep is not 100 percent fit as he went through a hernia surgery. Axar recently had a baby so was not going to travel. Hence, Tanush was the best option for us and he was probably one of the reasons why Mumbai went on to win the Ranji trophy last season,” the Indian skipper added.
Tanush’s impressive domestic cricket record
Tanush’s inclusion in the squad comes as a result of his consistent performances in domestic cricket. In his 33 First-Class matches, Tanish has taken 101 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls. His bowling abilities have made him a standout performer, particularly in the longer format. Tanush’s off-spin skills are well-regarded, and his selection highlights the faith the selectors have in his ability to perform on the international stage.
Apart from his bowling, Tanush is also known for his batting prowess. Over the course of his 33 First-Class matches, he has accumulated 1525 runs, including two centuries. This all-round ability makes him a valuable asset to the team, adding depth to India’s spin options.
