Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has criticized Shubman Gill’s decision to drop Karun Nair for the 4th Test against England, stating Gill missed a chance to display strong leadership.
Kaif Questions Gill’s Leadership Call
Mohammad Kaif took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice his disappointment regarding Shubman Gill’s team selection. He believed it was an opportunity for Gill, as captain, to show faith in a struggling player like Karun Nair.
“Today was Shubman Gill’s chance to back Karun who was down but deserved one more chance,” Kaif posted. He added that Gill “missed a chance to earn the respect when it comes to making tough decisions as a leader.”
Karun Nair’s Comeback and Struggles
Karun Nair’s much-anticipated return to the Indian Test squad after an eight-year hiatus hasn’t quite gone to plan. Despite his long absence, he was given a shot in the first three Tests against England.
However, Nair struggled to convert his starts into significant scores. Across six innings, he managed 131 runs at an average of 21.83, with a high score of 40. His individual scores read 0, 20, 31, 26, 40, and 14, highlighting his difficulty in building an innings.
Gill Explains Team Changes for 4th Test
At the toss for the 4th Test in Manchester, Shubman Gill announced three changes to the Indian lineup. The most notable was the inclusion of Sai Sudharsan in place of Karun Nair.
Gill acknowledged the intensity of the previous matches, stating, “All three Tests were intense. Looks like a good surface. Nice and hard.” He also mentioned potential rain forecasts for the duration of the match.
Explaining the overall changes, Gill confirmed, “Sai Sudharsan comes in place of Karun. Kamboj and Shardul are in as well for Akash Deep and Reddy who are injured.” Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy were sidelined due to injuries, making way for Shardul Thakur and Anshul Kamboj.
England’s Lineup Adjustment
India wasn’t the only team making a change for the crucial fourth Test. England also tweaked their playing eleven.
They brought in spinner Liam Dawson to replace fellow spinner Shoaib Bashir. Bashir had sustained a hand injury during the third Test at Lord’s, necessitating his absence from this match.
- Mohammad Kaif believes Shubman Gill missed an opportunity to demonstrate strong leadership by dropping Karun Nair.
- Karun Nair, returning after eight years, struggled to convert starts in his six innings across the first three Tests.
- Gill replaced Nair with Sai Sudharsan for the 4th Test, citing the need for fresh players and injured regulars.
- England also made a change, bringing in Liam Dawson for the injured Shoaib Bashir.
The series, currently 2-1 in favor of England, continues to be a captivating contest as both teams adjust their strategies in pursuit of victory.
