Gautam Gambhir backs Karun Nair's return, stresses importance of domestic performances
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 5 (ANI): India head coach Gautam Gambhir has thrown his support behind Karun Nair, who has earned a recall to the national Test squad following a standout domestic season with Vidarbha in 2024-25. Nair's consistent performances in domestic cricket have impressed the selectors, and Gambhir believes his experience will be crucial on England tour.
'It's just great for domestic cricket,' Gambhir said in the pre-departure press conference.
'All the youngsters will know its importance. If you keep doing well there, doors are never shut for you,' he added.
Nair, who last played a Test for India in 2017, scored heavily in the domestic circuit. He was brilliant in the recent unofficial Test for India A against the England Lions, scoring a brilliant 204 runs in the English conditions.
'Always good to have the experience of Karun,' Gambhir said, adding that 'He played County cricket there and he is in really good form. His experience will come in handy.'
Emphasizing a patient approach with returning players, Gambhir made it clear that Nair would not be judged hastily. He insisted that players who prove themselves over time in domestic cricket deserve a fair run at the international level.
'More importantly, we won't judge someone by one or two Test matches,' he added.
'If someone has scored heaps of runs, he will be given a decent run so that he can show his talent at the international level,' he added.
Nair's inclusion comes at a transitional phase for Indian Test cricket, following the retirements of stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The dream season for Vidarbha star concluded with the 863-run season in Ranji Trophy, with an average of 53.93, four centuries and two fifties in 16 innings across nine matches. His best score of 135 came in the final and his team emerged victorious.
A massive highlight of his season was the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament, where he top-scored with 779 runs in nine matches and eight innings at a stunning average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04, with five centuries and a fifty and best score of 163*. He played a massive role in his team's run to the finals, where they lost to his former team, Karnataka.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 competition, Nair made 255 runs in six innings, averaging 42.50 at a strike rate of 177.08, with three half-centuries and the best score of 77. His team was knocked out in the quarterfinals. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
21 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
No disrespect to Anderson-Tendulkar, but renaming the Pataudi Trophy isn't quite cricket
In 2007, ahead of the 75th anniversary of India's entry into Test cricket (their first game was against England at Lord's in June 1932), the Pataudi Trophy was instituted as the coveted prize for the winner of the series between the two teams on English soil. The Anthony S De Mello Trophy, named after one of the two founding fathers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, was the corresponding silverware for victors of Indo-England showdowns in India. The naming of the trophy after the Pataudi father-son duo – Iftikhar Ali Khan played for both England and India, while 'Tiger' Mansur remains India's youngest Test captain – was welcomed as thoughtful, sensitive, laudatory. There was more than mere tokenism to the nomenclature. The senior Pataudi symbolised the shared cricketing legacy between India and the country that ruled them for long. He stood up for what he believed in, and was therefore dropped after the second Test of the infamous Bodyline series of 1932-33 in Australia when he refused to field on the leg-side, in defiance of captain Douglas Jardine. Iftikhar Ali Khan, who made a century on debut in Sydney in December 1932, played three Tests for England and three for India (all as captain) against England in a Test career that spanned nearly 14 years. His son, educated in England, was one of India's finest batters and one of the greatest fielders of his – old-times insist 'any' – era. But his legacy extended far beyond that. Taking over the reins in the Caribbean in 1962 when only 21 after designated skipper Nari Contractor received a sickening blow to his head from Charlie Griffith in a tour match, Tiger instilled a sense of 'Indianness' within the side, exploding regional barriers and divides on the basis of geography and language to forge a fighting fit unit that was proud of its collective roots. Fusing the charisma of royalty with an innate sense of oneness and empathy, Tiger is hailed as the prince with the heart of a commoner. Between them, father and son had done yeomen service to the cricket world at large, not just Indian cricket, and it was befitting therefore that the Pataudi Trophy, a small way of recognising their contribution to the sport, came into being. Now, the Pataudi Trophy is being consigned to history. Starting in two weeks' time, England and India will do battle in the former's backyard for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, named after inarguably the greatest batter (Sachin Tendulkar) of his generation and unquestionably the most prolific fast bowler (James Anderson) in the five-day game. Both are icons, trend-setters, trail-blazers, relentless in their pursuit of excellence and shining examples of how to play the game in the spirit in which it is intended to be. There is no questioning whether they are worthy of this honour. Both are living legends and deserve to be celebrated. But at the expense of the Pataudis? Why? One of the reasons proffered for the change is that naming the series after contemporary greats will make the rivalry more relatable to the younger generation. Should we presume that two decades hence, we will move on from Anderson-Tendulkar to players of a more recent vintage? Is this how we honour legends who have carved a path where none existed, so that newer fans with recency bias are allowed to forget history, forget the giants who have made the sport what it is? That such a move has emanated from England, with its avowed respect for and faith in history and tradition, is particularly disturbing though it is perhaps in keeping with the recent trend – after all, it is England that has given us T20 cricket, it is also in England where The Hundred, a 100-ball-a-side concept, has taken deep root. It is incumbent upon the custodians of the game, the administrators, even modern players, to ensure that new, young fans are educated about the history of the sport, any sport. To assume that today's followers have no interest in knowing about the past is dangerous and short-sighted, with the potential to eventually relegate the glorious past to deep recesses and invest only in the present. The name change has understandably attracted censure from several quarters. The graceful Sharmila Tagore, the late Tiger's wife, called it 'insensitive' while Sunil Gavaskar was less guarded in his criticism. 'It shows a total lack of sensitivity to the contribution made by the Pataudis to cricket in both England and India,' the batting legend wrote in his column in Sportstar. 'Here's hoping that if an Indian player has been approached, he'll have the good sense to decline politely.' One's not sure what Tendulkar has made of this.
Mint
37 minutes ago
- Mint
Moody backs Australia to defend WTC mace, but issues SAs 'genuine threat' warning
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Former cricketer Tom Moody has backed Australia to pip South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, which is slated to kick off on Wednesday at Lord's, but cautioned his former side to be wary of Marco Jansen, who will be a "genuine threat." Australia is on the cusp of scripting another milestone. If the Baggy Greens trounce the Proteas, they will become the first team to defend the WTC mace successfully. The Pat Cummins-led side has exuded its winning pedigree with famous triumphs in the WTC 2023 final at The Oval and the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. Moody expects Australia to embrace the challenge and prosper in the high-stakes fixture. "The Australians have built that reputation through consistent success in major tournaments. When it comes to ICC events, Australia somehow elevates their game to another level as a team. They genuinely embrace the challenges of tournament cricket and thrive under the pressure of these high-stakes matches," Moody said on Star Sports. "It's also about confidence. Historically, many of their players have won multiple ICC tournaments, and they've grown up watching previous generations achieve the same success. That winning mentality is ingrained in them," he added. While Moody sees Australia as on-paper favourites, he identified South Africa's two quicks who can make the defending champions toil hard for runs. Apart from Kagiso Rabada, who has delivered repeatedly, Moody sees the lanky quick Jansen to pose a genuine threat to Australia. "You can never discount Rabada and especially Jansen. At nearly seven feet tall, Marco Jansen brings height, bounce, and new-ball swing - he'll be a genuine threat. And Rabada? We know his Test pedigree - he's delivered repeatedly," he said. Despite being aware of the menace South Africa can pose, Moody still backed Australia, considering the experience of its pace express mainstays, captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. "That said, I'd still back Australia here - not out of bias, but experience. With Hazlewood, Cummins, and Starc - three battle-hardened pacers who've played multiple Ashes in England - they know Lord's intimately. And let's not forget Nathan Lyon's perfect supporting role," he added. (ANI)
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
21st Delhi International GM Open Chess Tournament: A clash of titans begins in premier classical showdown
Chess (Photo by) S.L. Narayanan, Abhijeet Gupta (three-time Delhi GM champion), alongside international stars Levan Pantsulaia (Georgia) and Manuel Petrosyan (Armenia) are set to compete in the 21st Delhi International GM Open Chess Tournament, commencing June 7 at Tivoli Gardens, New Delhi. The tournament has attracted more than 2,500 participants from 25 countries, cementing its position as a premier classical chess competition in Asia, where established champions compete and emerging talents develop. Top seed Narayanan (FIDE 2600) leads this year's competition, recognised for his classical chess expertise. The strong Indian representation includes Abhijeet Gupta, GM Diptayan Ghosh, and National Champion GM Venkataraman Karthik. Category A, designated for internationally rated players, features 24 GMs & 21 IMs, including notable international players like Luka Paichadze (Georgia). This category offers Rs 51 lakh in prize money. Bangladesh's WIM Rani Hamid, aged 80 and twenty-time National Champion, returns to Delhi, sustaining her distinction as one of Asia's most enduring international players. Bharat Singh Chauhan, Delhi Chess Association President, stated: "Over the years, we've nurtured players not just by giving them a platform, but by building a high-performance environment rooted in consistency and care. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Many of India's finest, including Gukesh and Arjun, have grown through this very ecosystem. With legends like Rani Hamid and stars like Narayanan in the mix, this year's edition reflects the range, strength, and soul of South Asian chess. " The tournament has established itself as a significant platform for elite talent development. Notable players including Arjun Erigaisi, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram refined their skills here, whilst Gukesh Dommaraju secured his final GM norm at this event, becoming the world's youngest Grandmaster at age 12. The 2025 edition maintains this tradition of excellence. Categories B (Under-1900) and C (Under-1700) each offer Rs 35 lakh in prizes, attracting over 2,000 participants. All competitions follow classical time control format under FIDE Swiss System rules, comprising 10 rounds per section.
