Mumbai player Tanush Kotian celebrates the wicket. (PTI)
India have issued a maiden call-up to Mumbai off-spinner Tanush Kotian, who will join the team for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting Melbourne. The Indian Express understands that Kotian has been included as a back-up option, after Axar Patel informed the BCCI that he is not available due to personal reasons.
The selectors have been forced to include Kotian after R Ashwin announced his international retirement at the end of the third Test at Brisbane. The 26-year-old Kotian who won the Ranji Trophy last season and is part of Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad in Ahmedabad will leave for Australia on Tuesday.
Kotian an off-spinner, is also a reliable lower-order batsman. In 33 first-class matches he has picked up 101 wickets and has scored two centuries and 13 half centuries. Over the years he has been amongst the regulars for Mumbai across all formats and in the last few seasons his stocks have been increasing because of his all-round abilities.
In this season’s Irani Cup, Kotian scored a century against Rest of India as Mumbai ended their 27-year drought. In the Duleep Trophy, he picked up 10 wickets in three matches for India A in it’s victorious campaign.
Following Ashwin’s retirement, India have only Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as their spin bowling options. Kuldeep Yadav isn’t part of the touring party as he is being treated for an injury.
While Axar was the automatic pick, the all-rounder has sought a break because of personal reasons.
The series is locked 1-1 with two Tests lined up at Melbourne and Sydney.
In the three Tests so far, India have played three different spinners. Having started with Washington at Perth, India played Ashwin in the day-night Test at Adelaide before Ravindra Jadeja came in for the the third. At MCG and Sydney, India have the option of playing both Jadeja and Washington as it not only strengthens the batting but it could be ideal for the conditions as well.
The MCG, which uses drop-in pitches, has been slow off late which could bring spinners into play. Last time India played both Jadeja and Ashwin in the Boxing Day Test.
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