After going unsold at the mega auction last year, Mumbai all-rounder Tanush Kotian has joined the Punjab Kings camp as a net bowler for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. The 26-year-old off-spinner was spotted bowling to the PBKS batters during their training session ahead of the crucial clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Saturday, April 26.
During the practice session, Kotian engaged in long conversations with PBKS spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi, as the team fine-tuned their plans for facing KKR’s potent spin attack. With Punjab Kings relying heavily on Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, and Praveen Dubey—two of whom are leg-spinners—bringing in Kotian’s classical off-spin into the nets adds a refreshing variety and sharpens their preparations for the spin-heavy KKR.
Kolkata Knight Riders, after all, boast two of the most dangerous mystery spinners in T20 cricket—Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Both have a reputation for rattling even the most established batting line-ups, and Kotian’s traditional style offers a useful simulation for the PBKS batters looking to navigate the upcoming challenge.
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Kotian has been a consistent performer in India’s domestic circuit, playing a pivotal role in Mumbai’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph earlier this season. While he missed out on an IPL contract at the 2025 auction, PBKS have made a smart tactical move by drafting him into their training setup.
Mumbai all-rounder Tanush Kotian joins Punjab Kings as net bowler 🏏
READ HERE:https://t.co/vsDT4aWSSq
— TOI Sports (@toisports) April 25, 2025
Interestingly, it’s believed that PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer, who shares the Mumbai dressing room with Kotian, played a role in recommending him. Iyer’s understanding of the KKR setup—having led them to their third IPL title in 2024—could prove invaluable as Punjab look to outfox the defending champions on their home turf.
Kotian officially joined PBKS nets on April 24 and immediately made an impression, troubling batters with his tight lines and subtle variations, offering a solid challenge to the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, and Prabhsimran Singh in the nets.
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As for the broader picture, Punjab Kings have momentum on their side. They currently sit fifth on the points table with five wins from eight games. A win against KKR could strengthen their playoff hopes considerably. However, PBKS will be mindful of their painful history—their last playoff appearance came way back in 2014, and fans are growing restless for a change.
Their recent meetings with KKR have already made IPL history—defending the lowest total (111 runs) earlier this season, and last year featuring in the highest successful chase (262 runs). Now, with just six games left, Punjab will aim to keep their playoff dreams alive, beginning with another vital battle at Eden Gardens.
