Who is Tanush Kotian, India’s uncapped call-up for the Australia Tests
India called up the 26-year-old for the final two Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Going into the home stretch of the Border-Gavaskar Series, India have made a solitary change in their squad for the final two Tests.
Tanush Kotian has received his maiden call-up to the Test side, and will take the place of Ravichandran Ashwin, who announced his retirement from international cricket after the Brisbane Test.
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The right-arm off spinner arrives in the Indian red-ball setup as a spin-bowling all-rounder, who has proved his mettle with the bat as well in recent times.
We take a quick look at his journey so far:
Early career
Rising through the ranks in age-group cricket in Mumbai, Kotian was part of India's Under-19 team in 2017.
He competed in the U19 Asia Cup squad that year, alongside the likes of Riyan Parag and Arshdeep Singh.
However, after low returns in the lead up to the tournament, Kotian missed making the cut for India's the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, where the Prithvi Shaw-led side eventually lifted the trophy.
However, his exploits in India's age-group domestic tournament, Vinoo Mankad Trophy, soon earned him a place in Mumbai's senior team.
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Prithvi Shaw ended 2018 having claimed a maiden Test century for India, but prior to his run-fest against the West Indies in October, he captained India to glory in the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand at the start of the year. It was the champions' fourth title, anchored primarily by the runs of Shubman Gill. Australia were the opponents in the final, swept away by another brilliant young Indian side, a comfortable eight-wicket win taking them to the top of the world.
Domestic feats
Kotian made his first-class debut for Mumbai in 2018, aged just 20, picking up two wickets against Saurashtra in the first-innings.
Since then, he has accumulated 101 first-class wickets, averaging 25.70, from 33 outings. He has been a mainstay in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad, with his batting coming to the fore as well – he has scored 1525 runs so far, including two centuries and 13 half-centuries.
Kotian was pivotal to the Indian domestic powerhouse’s 2023/24 season-winning campaign.
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As Mumbai lifted the trophy, Kotian finished as the Player of the Tournament with 29 wickets, while also scoring 502 runs at an impressive average of 41.83.
In the ongoing red-ball season in India, the 26-year-old has 12 wickets under his belt from five matches.
Kotian was signed by the Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2024 as a replacement for Adam Zampa, and made his debut appearance in the league but didn't get a chance to roll his arms.
Outing in Melbourne
In October, the Mumbai all-rounder walloped a ton against Rest of India side in the Irani Cup – the performance propelled him to the India A squad, which toured Australia ahead of the senior side's five-Test series.
Kotian featured in the second tour game in Melbourne, where despite falling for a duck in the first innings, Kotian returned with 44 runs and snapped a wicket in the second.
With the Australia-India Test caravan moving to Melbourne and Sydney, where spinners have found more favour than other venues Down Under, Kotian provides India with a valuable option alongside the veteran Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.