Meet Tanush Kotian: The 26-year-old uncapped spinner making headlines in India's squad for remaining two Tests against Australia

Tanush Kotian, a talented cricketer who represents Mumbai in domestic cricket, has been called up to join the Indian squad for the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The 26-year-old has been drafted in to fill the void left by the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin after the Gabba Test.

After Ashwin's retirement, India only had Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as spin bowling options in the squad, which might have led to Kotian being asked to travel to Australia.

In the three Tests so far, India have played three different spinners. Washington Sundar started in Perth, and the visitors then played Ashwin in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. Ravindra Jadeja then came in for the Test in Brisbane.

The off-spinning all-rounder Kotian is currently a part of Mumbai's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad. He is currently in Ahmedabad and will now head back to Mumbai, from where he will take a flight to Melbourne on Tuesday.

"Yes, Tanush has been added to the India squad. He will leave for Melbourne on Tuesday," a source privy to developments told Hindustan Times.

The 26-year-old Tanush Kotian was a part of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy-winning team last season. Recently, he has made a name for himself by picking crucial wickets and being a reliable lower-order batter.

He was recently also a part of the India A squad for the two unofficial Tests against Australia A. He played the second match, taking one wicket and scoring 44 runs.

All you need to know about Tanush Kotian

The young off-spinner has so far played 33 first-class matches, scoring 1525 runs at an average of 41.21. He has also picked 101 wickets at an impressive average of 25.70.

Kotian has also scored two centuries and 13 half-centuries in his first-class career so far. Over the years, he has made himself irreplaceable in Mumbai's playing XI.

He was also named Player of the Tournament during Mumbai's Ranji Trophy-winning campaign in 2023-24. During this particular season, Kotian scored 502 runs at an average of 41.83 and also took 29 wickets at 16.96.

In this season's Irani Cup, Kotian scored a fantastic century against the Rest of India to help Mumbai win the title after a span of 27 years.

He was then seen in action in the Duleep Trophy, where he took 10 wickets in three matches for India A as he helped the side win the title.

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