Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma explained the reason behind the selection of Tanush Kotian as a replacement for the retired Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of the fourth and fifth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
The announcement came after Ashwin concluded his international career following the third Test in Brisbane, leaving India in need of a spinner.
The Selection Context
With options like Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel available, many expected one of them to step in for Ashwin. However, Rohit humorously noted that Kuldeep’s lack of a visa was a significant factor in their decision.
“Tanush was here a month back and Kuldeep doesn’t have a visa. We needed someone to get here as quickly as possible,” he stated, emphasizing that Kotian was ready and had performed well in recent matches.
This joke underscored the urgency of the situation as India prepared for crucial matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
Praise for Tanush Kotian
While Rohit’s comments were light-hearted, he took a moment to praise Kotian’s abilities seriously.
The Mumbai all-rounder has been in impressive form, having recently played for India A during their tour of Australia, where he showcased his skills by scoring 44 runs and taking a wicket in his only appearance.
Over his first-class career, Kotian has played 33 matches, taking 101 wickets at an average of 25.70 and scoring 1,525 runs with an average of 41.21, including two centuries and thirteen fifties.
Rohit further elaborated on why Kuldeep and Axar were not considered viable options. Kuldeep has recently undergone hernia surgery and is not at full fitness, while Axar was unavailable due to personal reasons, having recently become a father.
“Kuldeep is not 100 percent fit as he went through a hernia surgery. Axar recently had a baby, so he was not going to travel,” Rohit explained. This left Tanush as the most suitable candidate to fill Ashwin’s shoes.
