The 26-year-old Mumbai all-rounder Tanush Kotian has been surprisingly included in the Indian Test squad for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 as a replacement for retired Ravichandran Ashwin. 

The five-match Test series Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia has already experienced three Tests, as both teams won one Test each. At the end of the last Test at the Gabba (Brisbane), Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket. Tanush Kotian will be now available for the Indian Test side in the next two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney. 

Tanush Kotian is an off-spin-bowling all-rounder. He made his first-class debut in December 2018 and began his List A and T20 career in 2021. He recently toured Australia with India A, where he played one first-class match to pick up one wicket and score 44 runs in one innings. 

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Tanush Kotian: Impressive first-class career records

The Mumbai all-rounder Kotian has taken 101 wickets in 33 first-class matches. In his first-class career, the off-spinner has recorded three fifers. Also, the right-handed batter has scored 1525 runs in 47 first-class innings with the help of two centuries and 13 half-centuries.  

Tanush Kotian: Player of the Tournament in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24

Tanush Kotian was outstanding in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24, as the Mumbai all-rounder was the Player of the Tournament. He finished the tournament with 502 runs and 29 wickets. While the right-handed batter recorded one century and five half-centuries in that competition, the off-spinner also claimed one fifer. 

In the final of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 against Vidarbha, while Mumbai claimed their first Ranji Trophy in seven years, Kotian picked up seven wickets, including three wickets in the second innings (3/7) and four wickets in the fourth innings (4/95).

Tanush Kotian has been added to India's squad for BGT. pic.twitter.com/dTQjRKkguw

— Kashif (@cricstate) December 23, 2024

Ranji Rewind ⏪

Tanush Kotian has impressed with his all-round efforts in the #RanjiTrophy so far 🙌

He is in brilliant form & one to watch out for in #Final 👌

Relive 📽️ the Mumbai all-rounder's fighting fifer against Uttar Pradesh in the group stage 🔥 🔽 pic.twitter.com/LylQgKgzno

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 8, 2024

Entered record books during the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 quarterfinal

During the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 quarterfinal against Baroda, Kotian and Tushar Deshpande created tournament history by recording the second-highest 10th-wicket partnership in the Ranji Trophy history with a 232-run partnership. While the no.10 batter Kotian scored 120 not out, the no.11 batter Deshpande scored 123 runs. It was the only second time in first-class cricket history that both the no.10 and no.11 batters hit centuries in the same innings.

Shined in the latest Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup

During the Duleep Trophy 2024-25, Kotian served for the champions India A, where he scored 121 runs in five innings, including one half-century, and took 10 wickets in three matches. In the tournament final, he took a total of four wickets (1/38 and 3/47) along with scoring 10 and 26 not out.

Tanush Kotian is turning it on for India A 🔥

Gets the wickets of Ishan Kishan & Abishek Porel in quick succession 👌

Brilliant catch from captain Mayank Agarwal as well.

India C are 184/5#DuleepTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Follow the match ▶️: https://t.co/QkxvrUnnhz pic.twitter.com/ZaxWYkluCj

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 22, 2024

While Mumbai won the Irani Cup 2024-25 after 27 years, Kotian confirmed Mumbai’s victory with his second first-class century (114 not out) and set up a 158-run partnership for the unbroken ninth wicket with Mohit Avasthi, who scored 51 not out. 

In the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, Kotian has taken 12 wickets in two matches and scored 30 runs. 

White-ball cricket performances

Kotian has also played 20 List A matches and 33 T20s, where the off-spinner picked up 20 and 33 wickets, respectively, and scored 90 and 87 runs. Although the late batter hasn’t scored much in the white-ball formats yet, his strike rates are shining: 118.42 in List A and 98.86 in T20.

Just made the IPL debut

While Kotian was unsold in the recent mega auction for the IPL 2025, he made his IPL debut in the 2024 season for Rajasthan Royals, where the right-handed batter scored 24 off 31 balls in his only match and didn’t bowl.