Karun Nair, after an impressive return to the Indian Test squad, has reportedly exhausted his opportunities following a string of low scores and has been dropped for the fourth Test against England.
A Missed Second Chance
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar recently commented on Karun Nair’s situation, highlighting the unfortunate turn of events. Manjrekar referenced Nair’s viral 2022 tweet where he pleaded, “Cricket, give me another chance,” noting that cricket indeed offered him that opportunity.
However, Manjrekar expressed disappointment that Nair was unable to capitalize on this comeback. He added that it’s good to see Sai Sudarshan back in the team, suggesting Sudarshan should have played the second Test as well.
Struggles in the Test Series
Nair’s return to the Indian Test team was much anticipated, especially after an eight-year gap. He got his chance in the current series against England, featuring in three Tests.
Initially batting at No. 6 in the first Test, Nair scored 0 and 20. He was then moved to his preferred No. 3 spot after Sudharshan was dropped, but his scores remained modest: 31, 26, 40, and 14. These contributions weren’t enough to cement his place.
Team’s Support Despite Poor Form
Before the decision to drop him, it seemed India might retain Nair for the Old Trafford Test. Shubman Gill, in a pre-match press conference, had defended Nair’s performance, acknowledging the difficulty of making a comeback in a high-stakes series.
Gill stated that the team believed Karun was batting well and sometimes a player just needs “that click” to convert good starts into big scores. Unfortunately, for Nair, that click didn’t happen in this series.
Domestic Dominance Versus International Hurdles
Nair’s struggles in this Test series came as a surprise to many, considering his exceptional form leading up to it. In practice matches in England before the series, he scored a double century in Canterbury and a solid 40 in Northampton, seemingly ready for his Test return.
His domestic cricket performance has been stellar. After a three-year hiatus, Nair will return to his home state, Karnataka, for the upcoming domestic season. He played a significant role in Vidarbha’s title-winning run in the 2024-25 season, amassing 863 runs at an average of 53, including a century in the final.
Earlier, he enjoyed a six-month streak where he racked up an astonishing 1,897 runs and nine centuries across all formats for Vidarbha, culminating in a Ranji Trophy title. This stark contrast between his domestic success and international performance highlights the immense pressure of top-tier cricket.
- Karun Nair was dropped from the Indian Test squad after a series of low scores against England.
- Sanjay Manjrekar noted that Nair failed to seize the “second chance” cricket offered him.
- Despite strong domestic form, including a double century in tour matches and a Ranji Trophy title with Vidarbha, Nair couldn’t convert his starts in Test cricket.
- Nair will return to play for Karnataka in the upcoming domestic season.
While his Test future remains uncertain, Nair’s focus will now likely shift back to replicating his dominant domestic form for Karnataka.
