Karun Nair Predicted To Be RETAINED For Next 2 ENG Tests: 'His Knocks Were Sweet'
Vidarbha coach Usman Ghani has predicted that Karun Nair will be retained for the remaining two Tests of the India-England Test series despite his indifferent form. Ghani believes that Nair has been unlucky to get out to some good deliveries amid some 'sweet' knocks and that head coach Gautam Gambhir will continue to reward his mental strength, 'zeal and grit' in the series where India need to overcome a 2-1 deficit.
Nair, making his comeback after eight years of exile, has managed just 131 runs in six innings at 21.83 with a best score of 40 in the most recent Test at Lord's. Although India's bowling has been found lacking of precision at times, the team's inability to chase 193 at Lord's has drawn flak for the batting department. Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel are breathing down Nair's neck and time is running out for him to make this chance count.
'Karun is mentally a very strong guy and that's a fine trait to have," Ghani told Mid-Day. 'It's not easy to make a comeback in the Test team after eight years, but he did it. He has that zeal and grit. It's just a matter of one good innings for Karun. He is playing well and has got starts. In the first innings of the Lord's Test, he made a brilliant 40. He needs to build on that to get a bigger score to boost his confidence," he added.
'Karun has unfortunately got out to a few very good deliveries [on the England tour]. He got a good ball in the last innings at Lord's as well, where he left the ball [but was trapped LBW by pacer Brydon Carse]. It's possible that he may have gone into a defensive mode. He probably was in two minds about whether to leave or play that one. But I believe whatever innings he has played, have been very sweet. I think he will be retained for the remaining two Tests," he added.
Nair's case might be complicated due to Rishabh Pant's recent finger injury. India have declared that he'll play the fourth Test at Old Trafford even if he's unable to keep wickets. That means they'll need to bring in Dhruv Jurel for a specialist player, and Nair could be in firing line.
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First Published:
July 18, 2025, 19:35 IST
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