Tanush Kotian will join the India squad as Mohammed Shami has been deemed unfit
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 move comes after Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket following the third Test in Brisbane.
The 26-year-old Kotian, currently playing for Mumbai in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, is expected to join the squad in Melbourne ahead of the third Test.
He will fly from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, then take a flight to Melbourne on Tuesday.
Having recently been part of the India A squad that toured Australia, there are unlikely to be any visa issues for him.
Kotian has played 33 first-class matches, scoring 1,525 runs at an average of 41.21 and taking 101 wickets at an average of 25.70.
He was named Player of the Tournament in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy-winning campaign in 2023-24, where he scored 502 runs at an average of 41.83 and took 29 wickets at 16.96.
Shami Deemed Unfit for Selection
Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami’s much-anticipated return to the national team has been delayed further, as the BCCI Medical Staff declared the veteran pacer unfit for selection for the final two Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Cricpulse had previously reported that Shami had not been cleared by the NCA despite his return to competitive cricket.
In a media release on Monday, the BCCI confirmed that Shami had experienced minor swelling in his left knee due to the workload from his bowling since his return from a long layoff.
While the swelling is a normal result, it means Shami is not yet ready to resume playing at the highest level.
The 34-year-old began his recovery with Bengal’s Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in November, where he bowled 43 overs without apparent discomfort.
He then participated in all of Bengal’s games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The BCCI Medical Team has been closely monitoring his progress for a potential Test squad inclusion in Australia.
However, with the latest swelling issue, Shami will need more time to complete his rehabilitation.
Earlier, Shami was rested for the opening Vijay Hazare Trophy game for Bengal as a precaution.
His participation in the tournament will now depend entirely on the progress of his rehab.
The BCCI Medical Team has emphasized that Shami’s workload will be carefully managed as he works towards a comeback.
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