Shardul Thakur in action© PTI

Mumbai vs Jammu and Kashmir, Ranji Trophy LIVE Updates: Mumbai eye turnaround.© BCCI

Rohit Sharma opened up on spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel not being called up.© X (Twitter)

File image of Tanush Kotian.© BCCI

The Indian cricket team has reportedly chosen a spinner to replace Ravichandran Ashwin in the Border Gavaskar Trophy after the veteran star announced his retirement after the third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw on December 18. According to a report in Sportstar, young Mumbai spin allrounder Tanush Kotian has been included in the squad and will fly out to Australia on Tuesday. Kotian has not played any international match before. 

The 26-year-old Kotian has played 33 First Class matches picking 101 wickets. In 20 List A matches he has 20 scalps while in 33 T20 games he has 33 wickets. The player previously toured Australia with the India A team ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. 

“Kotian has been added as a safety net and also to keep the squad number intact for the last two games. He only comes into the picture if either among Washy or Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) gets injured,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.  The bowling all-rounder picked two wickets and scored an unbeaten 39 for Mumbai in their Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Hyderabad on Monday.

Kotian has fond memories of the Melbourne Cricket Ground where he scored 44 batting at No. 8 for India A and looked the part. He already has 101 wickets to his name and 1525 runs with two centuries in 33 first-class games.

Originally, Axar Patel was supposed to be summoned to Australia but as per sources, the left arm spinner had sought a break after first two matches of Vijay Hazare Trophy due to a family commitment.

Kotian has been added to the squad following Ashwin’s surprise retirement from international cricket following the draw Test in Brisbane. The 38-year-old ended his glorious career as the second highest wicket taker for India behind Anil Kumble.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday posted a heartwarming tribute video for recently retired spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who reflected on a very big promise he made to himself early in his career when Indian team registered a series loss against England at home. Ashwin, who announced his retirement at the end of the Brisbane Test against Australia on Wednesday, was a crucial architect of India’s home domination that lasted for over 12 years and kickstarted after India’s loss to England in a Test series in 2012.

India lost the series at home to England in 2012 by 1-2 and Ashwin was early in his international career during that series. Ashwin did end up as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in that series with 14 scalps and overall at fourth spot, but his bowling average of 52.64 and no four or five-wicket hauls meant he was out-bowled by England pair of Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann (17 and 20 wickets respectively) and compatriot Pragyan Ojha, who topped the charts with 20 scalps at an average of around 30 and two five-wicket hauls and best figures of 5/45.

Ashwin, then a youngster, was dejected by this series loss and most importantly, a setback at familiar home conditions. In the BCCI video, Ashwin reminisced how he promised himself that he would make sure India would not lose a series once again at home.

“I made myself a promise in 2012, we lost a tricky series against England. I was very early in my career and I was just telling myself we are not gonna lose another one. Ever. And that is what I promised myself,” said Ashwin.

With ANI and PTI inputs 

It isn’t often that we see a controversy-free series between Indian and Australian teams Down Under. On multiple occasions, Indian teams have come across some bizarre acts in Australia, especially in red-ball matches. As the India A team took on Australia A in the second unofficial Test in Melbourne, a bizarre incident took place. Australian batter Marcus Harris didn’t move despite what seemed to be a clear caught behind. As the umpire turned down the strong appeal and gave the decision in the favour of the batter, there wasn’t much the Indians could do as the DRS option wasn’t available.

Facing India A off-spinner Tanush Kotian, Harris seemed to have been caught comfortably at first slip, prompting even celebrations from the Indian team. Though the players were convinced that Kotian was out, the umpire didn’t raise his finger, leaving the touring team absolutely shattered.

The absence of DRS in the unofficial Test series left the Indians with no other option but to accept the on-field umpire’s call.

With the caught-behind chances ruled out, it was also questioned whether Harris would’ve been out LBW, if he had in fact not edged the delivery from Kotian. But, with the ball pitching outside leg, LBW was also ruled out. Later, Harris seemed to have told Kotian that the ball had hit his back leg. But, replays confirmed that the ball had hit the front pad, hence raising suspicion of whether Harris actually knew what had happened.

The close-in fielders, including KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel, were confident of Harris’ dismissal earlier but looked befuddled when the decision came in the batting side’s favour. Here’s the video:

#MarcusHarris survives a huge appeal from #TanushKotian, and that decision turns the tide in Australia A’s favor!

He went on to score crucial 74 runs, putting his team in the driver’s seat!

Day 2 #AUSAvINDAOnStar | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1 & Star Sports 1 HD pic.twitter.com/tVpwFWfibP

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 8, 2024

“Externally, obviously this game was getting built up a lot, which is fair enough,” Harris sa

Marcus Harris is one of the top contenders to open for Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy alonside Usman Khawaja. Harris, who hit 74 runs against India A on Friday, feels he is ready to deliver on the big stage.

“I feel like I’ve been batting well, but so have lots of people. If I get called upon, I feel like I’m ready to go — and if I don’t, then so be it,” he said.