IND vs SL Tests | ‘I’m hoping to impress against quality batters’: Tanush Kotian

Tanush Kotian

Mumbai and West Zone off-spinner Tanush Kotian, 27, was busy preparing for the upcoming Duleep Trophy which begins in Bengaluru on August 23. However, his plans have now changed. Instead, he will be leaving for Sri Lanka [SL] to join Shubman Gill's Indian Test team as a net bowler.

"I was supposed to be leaving for Bengaluru tomorrow [Monday], but now I will be going to Sri Lanka on Tuesday instead," Kotian told mid-day on Sunday.

India will play two Tests against SL, starting at Galle from August 15 onwards. Kotian, who has picked 131 scalps and scored 2168 runs in 44 first-class games, was part of India's Test squad against Australia in 2024, when he was picked to replace R Ashwin, who retired after the third Test in Brisbane.

"I expected to get picked when the Indian team was announced [for the SL tour]. But now I'm getting a chance as a net bowler along with [left-arm spinner] Harsh Dubey. I will be bowling to some good batters during the net practice and have a chance to impress them. Playing against them [quality batters] will also help me grow as a bowler," said Kotian, adding that he missed the opportunity to feature as a net bowler ahead of the Afghanistan Test at New Chandigarh in June, since he was playing in the T20 Mumbai League.