Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian is set to join the Indian cricket squad in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test against Australia. A 26-year-old off-spinning all-rounder, Kotian has been identified as Ravichandran Ashwin’s potential replacement following Ashwin’s retirement after the Brisbane Test.
Let’s delve into everything about this promising cricketer while names such as Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel couldn't make the cut.

Kotian is regarded as one of the top off-spinning all-rounders in India’s domestic circuit. A product of Mumbai cricket, he has been a key performer for his state team in recent years. His standout performances include a stellar 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season, where he earned the 'Player of the Tournament' award.
His all-round contributions—502 runs at an average of 41.83 and 29 wickets at an average of 16.96—were pivotal in Mumbai clinching their 42nd Ranji Trophy title. Kotian’s resilience was also on display during the India A tour to Australia, where he impressed with a fighting knock of 44 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Batting Avg | Wickets | Bowling Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 33 | 2523 | 41.21 | 101 | 25.70 |
| List A | 24 | 638 | 36.47 | 42 | 24.90 |
| T20 | 29 | 285 | 28.50 | 34 | 23.50 |
Kotian’s recent exploits in domestic cricket and familiarity with Australian conditions make him a strong candidate. His ability to bat in the lower order and provide breakthroughs with his off-spin adds depth to India’s lineup. While he went unsold in the 2025 IPL auction, his consistent performances have positioned him as a promising addition to India’s Test squad.
As Kotian prepares to don the national colors, fans and experts will eagerly await his impact in the high-stakes series Down Under.