BGT 2024-25: Tanush Kotian added as BCCI announces India squad for last 2 tests

Tanush Kotian replaced retired Ravi Ashwin in India’s squad for last two tests of BGT 2024-25.

For the fourth and fifth test matches of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, India have selected Mumbai off-spin bowling all-rounder Tanush Kotian, who will join the squad soon.

The BGT 2024-25 series stand 1-1 level with India winning Perth by 295 runs and Australia hitting back with a 10-wicket win in Adelaide. The third test in Brisbane ended in a draw thanks to rains and some resilience by the Indian lower-order batters.

Now the action moves to Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the fourth test of the series, starting December 26. The fifth and final test of the series will be the New Year’s test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3.

Tanush Kotian is set to join the Indian squad in Melbourne on Tuesday, two days before the MCG test begins. He is currently in Hyderabad as part of the Mumbai squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Tanush Kotian replaces Ravi Ashwin in the Indian squad

Tanush Kotian, the Mumbai off-spin-bowling all-rounder, has been picked as R Ashwin’s replacement in India’s squad. Kotian, 26, has played 33 First-Class (FC) cricket games and has taken 101 wickets at an average of  25.70. He has also amassed 1525 runs in 47 innings, averaging 41.21, with two centuries and 13 fifties.

He played one match for India A on their tour of Australia before the BGT 2024-25, scoring 44 runs and capturing one wicket.

Kotian played a massive part in Mumbai winning the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy tournament. He scored 502 runs at an average of 41.83 and picked up 29 wickets at an average of 16.96. He got the Player of the Series award for this. Kotian was the only player to complete the season double of 500 runs and 25 wickets.

In the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25, Tanush Kotian has played 2 matches for Mumbai and picked 12 wickets, at an average of 16.66. His bat hasn’t spoken much in the first half of the tournament.

India’s squad for fourth and fifth tests:

Rohit Sharma (capt), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tanush Kotian.

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