India vs Australia: Rohit Sharma Explains India’s Choice of Tanush Kotian Over Kuldeep Yadav for MCG Test

For the 4th Test between India and Australia, Indian captain Rohit Sharma explained the selection of Tanush Kotian over Kuldeep Yadav as a backup spinner. Kotian was chosen due to his availability and recent strong performances in domestic cricket, including playing a key role in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy win last year.

Yeah, Tanush was here a month back. Kuldeep, I don’t think has a visa. We wanted somebody to get here as quickly as possible. Tanush was the one who was ready. That’s just a joke. He played here. He is good enough. He has shown what he has done in the last 1–2 years in domestic cricket. And we really wanted a back-up in case we need two spinners playing here or Sydney, you need a back-up option. Kuldeep, obviously, he is not 100 percent fit, he went through hernia surgery. And the other options like Axar, Axar recently had a baby, and he was not going to travel. Tanush was the right option for us. He has certainly shown on the domestic level what he is capable of. He is probably one of the reasons why Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy last year. He played a major role as an all-rounder. Very good option for us, all areas are covered.

Rohit emphasized that Kotian was ready to join the squad quickly, whereas Kuldeep, recovering from hernia surgery, was not fully fit. Additionally, Axar Patel, another option, was unavailable due to family commitments. Rohit stated that Kotian’s all-round skills made him a valuable asset, especially for the upcoming Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

He also confirmed that despite his recent knee injury, he is fit and will play in the Boxing Day Test. The decision to include Kotian provides India with a solid backup option in case they need two spinners for the challenging Australian conditions.