The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently named the 26-year-old bowling all-rounder Tanush Kotian as a substitute for Ravichandran Ashwin Australia in the squad for the remaining two matches of the 2024-25 tour of India. Indian captain Rohit Sharma sheds light on Kotian’s choice over more experienced options such as Kuldeep Yadav and Akhar Patel, After Ashwin’s unexpected retirement, there was a void in India’s spin department
Rohit Sharma clarifies his choice to pick Tanush Kotia
Rohit said Tanush was in Australia for an unofficial test match between Australia A and India A a month ago. Sarhad Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and jokingly added that Kuldeep did not have a visa. He added that they need someone fast, Tanush was ready and performed well. However, he admitted that Tanush has been performing consistently well for the last two years and has been brought in as a back-up in case they play two spinners in Sydney or Melbourne.
“Tanush was here a month ago and Kuldeep has no visa. We needed someone to reach us as soon as possible. Tanush was ready here and played well. But all joking aside, he has been doing well for the last two years and we wanted back-ups in case we were going to play two spinners in Sydney or Melbourne.“, Rohit said at the press conference.
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Tanush’s choice over Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel
Rohit also mentioned that Kuldeep is not fully fit after undergoing a hernia operation and Akhar has not been able to travel as she recently gave birth. Therefore, Tanush was the top pick and his performance was probably the key factor in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy victory last season.
“Kuldeep is not 100 percent fit as he underwent hernia surgery. Akhar was not traveling because she recently gave birth to a child. So Tanush was the best pick for us and probably one of the reasons why Mumbai won the Ranji trophy last season.added the Indian captain.
Tanush’s impressive domestic cricket record
Tanush’s inclusion in the squad is a result of his consistent performances in domestic cricket. In 33 first-class matches, Tanish scored 101 goals, including three five-wicket hauls. His bowling skills made him an outstanding performer especially in the longer format. Tanush’s off-spin skills are highly regarded and his selection underscores the selectors’ confidence in his ability to perform on the international stage.
Apart from bowling, Tanush is also known for his batting skills. In 33 first-class matches, he scored 1,525 runs, including two centuries. This all-round ability makes him a valuable asset to the team and adds depth to India’s spin options.
