Tanush Kotian, Mumbai’s offspinning all-rounder, is set to join the Indian men’s team in Australia for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This comes after Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement from international cricket following the third Test in Brisbane.
The 26-year-old Kotian, currently playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, will fly to Melbourne ahead of the third Test. He is currently in Ahmedabad and will first return to Mumbai before heading to Melbourne on Tuesday. Having recently been part of the India A squad in Australia, Kotian is expected to face no visa issues.
Kotian boasts an impressive record in 33 first-class matches, amassing 1525 runs at an average of 41.21 and taking 101 wickets at 25.70. He was named Player of the Tournament in Mumbai’s victorious 2023-24 Ranji Trophy campaign, where he scored 502 runs at an average of 41.83 and claimed 29 wickets at an average of 16.96.
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Shami Declared Unfit for Selection
In contrast, Mohammed Shami’s anticipated return to the national side has been delayed as the BCCI Medical Staff declared him unfit for the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite his return to competitive cricket, Shami has not been cleared by the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The BCCI confirmed that Shami has experienced minor swelling in his left knee due to the bowling workload since his extended absence. While this is considered a minor issue, it means Shami is not yet ready for international cricket.
The 34-year-old’s recovery began with Bengal’s Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in November, where he bowled 43 overs without issues. He also played all of Bengal’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games, with the BCCI Medical Team closely monitoring his progress. However, the recent knee swelling means Shami will need more time to complete his rehabilitation.
Shami was also rested from Bengal’s first Vijay Hazare Trophy game as a precaution, and his participation in the tournament will now depend on his rehab progress. The BCCI Medical Team continues to manage his workload as he works towards a timely return to the national team.