"You get the feeling that somebody is not liking Axar Patel enough" - Aakash Chopra on Tanush Kotian being picked for BGT 2024-25

Former India player Aakash Chopra has noted that Tanush Kotian's selection for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 gives an impression that Axar Patel has been wronged. However, he added that the Gujarat all-rounder seemingly made himself unavailable for the tour.

The fourth Test of the five-match series between India and Australia will be played in Melbourne from Thursday, December 26, onwards. With Ravichandran Ashwin announcing his retirement from international cricket after the third Test, Kotian has been picked as his replacement for the final two Tests.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener observed that the reported selection makes one feel that Axar has been mistreated.

"Tanush Kotian is going for the BGT. This news once again came from unconfirmed sources but these days we get news from sources and later we realize this is exactly how it's happening. So let's assume Tanush Kotian is going," he said (5:15).

"Axar Patel's name has not come. That's an interesting one because when you don't see Axar's name, you feel the guy is being wronged, and he is not getting proper opportunities. You get the feeling that somebody is not liking him (Axar Patel) enough. He doesn't bowl when he plays or else doesn't play," Chopra added.

However, Chopra noted that the left-arm spinner supposedly wasn't available for selection.

"He has been very, very good whenever he has played, but has played very less. However, it's been heard that he has told the BCCI that he isn't available. I think they are expecting a child - once again unconfirmed sources, but he said that he doesn't want to go, he is unavailable, so you can consider someone else," he observed.

Axar captained Gujarat in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. However, he wasn't part of the state's playing XI in their first two games in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.

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"Ideally, there should have been a leg-spinner" - Aakash Chopra on Tanush Kotian's selection for BGT 2024-25

Tanush Kotian (right) played for India A in their recent series against Australia A. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that Tanush Kotian has decent first-class numbers but opined that a leg-spinner might have been a better option.

"That is when you think you can take Tanush Kotian. Tanush Kotian has been doing well in first-class cricket. His numbers are decent, so you want to go towards him. However, a question definitely comes to my mind. Ideally, there should have been a leg-spinner," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Kuldeep Yadav's recovery from his chronic groin issue could have been planned better.

"I felt since it was decided that Kuldeep Yadav won't go for the BGT, he was asked to get his surgery done quickly, although he wasn't playing the last series as well. He was sitting out. So he could have got it done then and become fit for the Boxing Day Test match and Sydney. We didn't think that much. We let Kuldeep go," Chopra elaborated.

Chopra noted that Yuzvendra Chahal is not being considered at all in Test cricket. He concluded by opining that the presence of a left-arm or right-arm leg spinner could have made a huge difference.