Mumbai off-spinner Tanush Kotian has been included in India's squad for the fourth and fifth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as Ravichandran Ashwin's replacement.

The BCCI confirmed his selection late on Monday evening.

Kotian, who is currently in Hyderabad as part of the Mumbai squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, is expected to fly to Melbourne on Tuesday.

The fourth Test of the ongoing series starts on Thursday. Kotian's presence will serve as a back-up for Washington Sundar. Ravindra Jadeja is the other spinner in the squad and there is a possibility that two spinners might be needed for both the Tests.

All-rounder Kotian, 26, has played 33 first-class games and taken 101 wickets at an average of 25.70. He has also scored 1525 runs in 47 innings, at 41.21 with two centuries and 13 fifties. He was part of India A's tour of Australia that preceded the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 44 and taking one wicket in one game.

He also played a big role in Mumbai's victorious 2023-24 Ranji Trophy campaign, scoring 502 runs at an average of 41.83 and picking 29 wickets at an average of 16.96.

Kotian was the Player of the Tournament and the only cricketer to complete the
season double of 500 runs and 25 wickets.