IND vs ENG 5th Test Day 1: Karun Nair's Career-Saving Knock Takes India To 204/6 At Stumps
Karun Nair's unbeaten 52 helped India reach 204/6 on a rain-hit first day of the fifth Test against England. Chris Woakes injured his shoulder.
Green top, overcast conditions, moving ball and struggling Indian batters. That was the scene at The Oval on the first day of the fifth and final Test against England. And if that wasn't enough, then the skipper showcased a bizarre way of getting out in international cricket.
The English bowling attack functioned like a well-oiled machine. However, the third session saw the momentum titling towards India and Karun Nair stealing the show.
Karun Nair scored a crucial half-century on a challenging pitch as other batters struggled, leaving India at 204 for six at the end of a rain-hit first day of the fifth Test series decider against England on Thursday.
After being dropped for the fourth Test, Nair (52 not out off 98 balls) returned to the team and performed under pressure in difficult conditions with the ball moving throughout the day. He was at the crease alongside Washington Sundar (19 not out off 45) at stumps.
Rain interrupted play twice, but still, 64 overs were completed in an extended evening session that lasted until 7:30 pm local time.
India lost three wickets in the third session, including the well-set Sai Sudharsan (38 off 108) and the in-form Ravindra Jadeja (9 off 13), both falling to Josh Tongue's deliveries that moved away to take the outside edge.
Playing his first Test of the series, Gus Atkinson impressed with two wickets. Except for Atkinson, Tongue and Jamie Overton bowled too many loose deliveries.
Chris Woakes, the only pacer besides Mohammed Siraj to play all five Tests, injured his shoulder while fielding towards the end of play, forcing him off the field and casting doubt on his participation in the game.
Nair, playing his first Test in eight years at Leeds, finally capitalised on his start, and considering the conditions, his unbeaten fifty is highly valuable. He reached his milestone with a couple off left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell in the final half-hour of play.
A sublime cover drive off Tongue in the 38th over was among the seven fours from Nair's bat.
view comments
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Forget 2027 World Cup, BCCI demand can push Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to retire immediately after Australia ODIs: Report
The dust has barely settled on India's brilliant Test series against England, yet speculation over the futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has already begun to ripple through the Indian cricketing setup. With no immediate fixtures for the national side over the next month, the spotlight has shifted from the field to the boardrooms, and according to a report from Dainik Jagran, the whispers surrounding the star duo's future are growing louder. India's Virat Kohli (R) along with captain Rohit Sharma during India's ODI series against England in 2025(AFP) For over a decade, Kohli and Rohit have been the pillars of India's white-ball dominance. Now, with both icons having stepped away from Test cricket earlier this year, attention has turned to their ODI journeys. While many assumed the 2027 World Cup in South Africa would serve as the grand stage for their final act, the report suggests the script could take an unexpected turn. According to the report, the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia this October might not just be another overseas challenge; it could mark the end of the road for both stalwarts in the 50-over format, too. If that comes to pass, the series would carry the emotional weight of a farewell tour rather than simply a competitive contest, as it will mean an international retirement for the duo. The report explains that should Kohli and Rohit decide to extend their ODI careers until 2027, they will be expected to commit to the domestic schedule, which means participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy later this year. The reasoning is straightforward: selectors want prospective World Cup players to remain in touch with the one-day rhythm, just as red-ball hopefuls were required to play the Ranji Trophy before India's tour of England earlier in 2025. The report indicates that the very condition of playing in the domestic tournament could trigger the duo's retirements after the ODIs against Australia. Selectors looking at the future? Behind the scenes, the selectors' focus is reportedly on the youngsters. The depth in India's white-ball talent pool has never been richer, with a younger core already knocking on the door. Building a squad for the 2027 World Cup means identifying combinations early, and that process inevitably forces conversations about transition. Both Kohli and Rohit have already shown they can retire from formats on their own terms, having announced their simultaneous retirements from T20Is in June last year after India's T20 World Cup win and from Tests in May earlier this year. The tour of Australia begins on October 19 in Perth, followed by games in Adelaide and Sydney. In November/December, home ODIs against South Africa await before a busy 2026 white-ball schedule.
The Hindu
14 minutes ago
- The Hindu
India vs Myanmar AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifier: Live streaming info; How can Young Tigresses qualify
The Indian Under-20 women's team will face Myanmar in a decisive fixture for a place in next year's AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup. The Joakim Alexandersson-coached side currently sits at the top of the four-team Group D table with four points after a goalless draw with Indonesia and a 7-0 win over Turkmenistan. All you need to know about India vs Myanmar AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifier When is the India vs Myanmar AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifier? The India vs Myanmar AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifier will kick off at 3 pm IST on Sunday, August 10, at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon. Where to watch the India vs Myanmar AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifier LIVE? The India vs Myanmar AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifier will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube channel. How can India qualify for the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2026? A win will guarantee top spot and qualification for India. If it's a draw with Myanmar, the Young Tigresses will have to wait for the result of the second match between Indonesia and Turkmenistan at 6 pm IST. If Indonesia fails to win, India will qualify. But if Indonesia wins, India will be out of contention to qualify. In that case, the top three teams will be level on five points, bringing the head-to-head criteria into play, where India cannot be ranked at the top, having scored fewer goals in the matches among the three teams. It Is important to note that despite the provision of the three best second-placed teams across all eight groups to qualify, the results in the other groups after the second matchday mean that there is now no possibility for the second-placed team in Group D to qualify since it is guaranteed to be ranked outside the top three in that table.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
14 minutes ago
- First Post
Australia series could mark final ODI appearance for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli: Report
India cricket legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli may play their last ODI series against Australia in October 2025. Report suggests that both stars could miss out on the 2027 ODI World Cup squad because the team management is looking to include younger players. read more The future of two of India's biggest cricket stars, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in One Day Internationals (ODIs) is now in doubt. According to a report in Dainik Jagran, the Indian team management is not planning to include both in the roadmap for the 2027 ODI World Cup. This could mean that the upcoming Australia series might be their last in the 50-over format. The report says that the team is preparing for a new era, with younger players likely to get more chances in ODIs. If Rohit and Virat want to keep their spots in the team, they might have to play in the domestic ODI tournament (Vijay Hazare Trophy) to prove their form and fitness. The management is reportedly focused on building a squad for the long term. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India will travel to Australia for three ODIs starting October 19, followed by games on October 23 and 25. The report suggests that both players could make a big announcement about their ODI future before this series. If they decide to step away, it will mark the end of an era in Indian cricket, as both have already retired from Test and T20I cricket. Who will become captain if Rohit retires? India's newly appointed Test captain, Shubman Gill, could replace Rohit Sharma as the ODI skipper. There have been calls to hand Gill the ODI captaincy as well, following his recent achievements in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England. Former India cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Mohammad Kaif are among those who have backed Gill to take over as the ODI captain. Earlier, it was reported that Rohit and Kohli were forced by the Indian team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, to retire from the Test format. The duo announced their retirements from red-ball cricket just weeks before the England tour, after which it was claimed that Gambhir wanted fresh talent for the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. However, the BCCI later denied these claims, stating that it was the players' own decision.
