'What Crime Has Karun Nair Committed?': Legend Wants Fair Chance As Gill And Rahul
Ahead of India's 4th Test against England in Manchester, the focus is on their playing XI with eyes fixated on the likes of Karun Nair, B Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav. While Nair is increasingly under pressure to keep his spot in the eleven after not performing to expectations while Kuldeep, an attacking wicket-taking spinner, is yet to get a game.
On the other hand, Sai Sudharsan was dropped after making his debut in the series opener. With India trailing 2-1 in the five-match series and dealing with multiple injury setbacks, they have to make some hard choices as they fight to pull themselves on level terms with England at Old Trafford.
Nair stormed back into the India setup after eight years thanks to productive outings in domestic cricket. However, on the ongoing England tour, he has only managed 131 runs across six innings including a duck.
Legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh though thinks that the Indian team management should persist with Karun at Old Trafford even though his returns are below par. He cited the examples of Test captain Shubman Gill and the experienced KL Rahul who have benefitted from getting plenty of chances.
'It's right that Karun hasn't scored runs but if you've given him chances, then persist with him (now). He may have not scored runs as per expectations but he's a good cricketer. I think every player deserves a fair chance. Shubman Gill, KL Rahul – they all (were given chances) deserved. The benchmark should be the same for everyone. If others are getting 5-6 chances, then what crime have Karun Nair or Sai Sudharsan committed (to have not gotten more chances)?" Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
One Change For Manchester Test
Harbhajan suggested India to bring in Kuldeep Yadav for the all-important 4th Test that starts from Wednesday.
'Bring in Kuldeep Yadav. You don't need a deep batting line-up here. You've Washington Sundar, Jaddu is your backbone. He has batted really well throughout the series," he said.
He also felt that hoping Sai Sudharsan to prove his credentials in just one Test wasn't justified. The top-order batter made 0 and 30 in Leeds before being consigned to the bench.
'I don't think one chance for Sai Sudharsan was justified to prove his talent. He's a talented player and will come good but if you are persisting with Karun, they play him (in Manchester)," Harbhajan said.
view comments
First Published:
July 22, 2025, 08:51 IST
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
NDTV
9 minutes ago
- NDTV
Gautam Gambhir Told To Take "Chill Pill" After Shubman Gill Question 'Got Under His Skin'
India head coach Gautam Gambhir launched a passionate defence of his skipper, Shubman Gill, in the press conference after the team managed to draw the Manchester Test against England in a heroic fashion. Gill, who is leading India's Test team in his maiden assignment, has seen many questions being raised over his leadership skills and tactical acumen. While it's natural for a young leader like Gill to make mistakes and learn in the process, coach Gambhir showed a rather bull-headed approach when a question was asked about Gill's captaincy on Sunday. Gambhir gave a fiery reply to the reporter who raised questions on some of the decisions made by Gill, as a young leader. "No one has any doubt in Shubman Gill's talent. Those who did, don't know cricket; they can only talk. Some players need time to blossom in international cricket. And to be honest, no one in the dressing room is surprised that Shubman has done well on this tour. And honestly, even if he didn't perform, no one would have pointed fingers. Those who know cricket understand what he is capable of. And the important thing is that he is living up to his expectations, his own talent, and captaincy. Even this thing that people talk about all the time, 'Captaincy pressure', you don't see anything of that kind when he goes into bat," Gambhir said in the press conference. Sanjay Manjrekar, a critic who has also questioned some of the decisions taken by Gill since the start of the series, felt that certain questions tend to get under Gambhir's skin. He further urged the coach to take it easy sometimes. "Gambhir was exactly like it, he's always been, and yeah, you can see that there are certain questions that get under his skin about people doubting Shubman Gill as a young captain and batter, and those are valid doubts," Manjrekar said on JioHotstar after the conclusion of the match. Manjrekar reminded Gill that even those who are questioning Gill's captaincy ultimately want what's best for Indian cricket. Hence, there's no need for Gambhir to be as defensive as he tends to get on certain topics. "I mean, people who understand cricket also wonder whether it's the right time to get that opportunity, and I hope he can just understand that better, and it's never you guys think and we guys think we are all part of the same industry and the country as well," he added. "So I just want him to sort of take a chill pill sometimes and just take it easy and answer questions and encourage questions that are tough, and I don't know whether that's likely to happen. I'd like to see at some stage Gautam Gambhir having that quality," he asserted. India might be trailing 1-2 in the series but the effort the boys have shown has been inspiring. But, for Manjrekar the credit for the fight in the series goes more to players than the coach gambhir. "I feel India has done well despite some of his (Gambhir) tactical decisions. Let's not forget: India lost 3-0 at home (to) New Zealand, lost comfortably to Australia (away). The fight we've seen in this team? That's down to the players. "Because tactically, Gambhir hasn't always made things easier - especially with some of his selections," he said.
Hans India
9 minutes ago
- Hans India
Oriental Cup 2025: DPS RK Puram and Govt. Girls Sr. Sec. School, Faridabad, win boys' and girls' titles
New Delhi: The Oriental Cup Football Tournament 2025 concluded with high drama and emotional victories, with Delhi Public School (DPS), RK Puram, and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridabad emerging champions in the boys' and girls' categories, respectively. Heavy morning rains threatened to disrupt the finals scheduled at Dr. Ambedkar Stadium here on Tuesday, but after careful assessment, the match commissioner, keeping the well-being of student athletes in mind, decided in consultation with the coaches and organisers, to conduct both finals via penalty shootouts. The final day was graced by Zafar Iqbal, 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medallist and former captain of the Indian hockey team, who inspired the players with his presence and gave away trophies to the winners. "I extend my sincere congratulations to Fareed Bakshi and the entire team at Oriental Structural Engineers (OSE) for their exemplary efforts in organizing such a well-executed and impactful tournament,' Iqbal said. 'Initiatives like these play a vital role in nurturing grassroots football and fostering the next generation of sporting talent. My heartfelt congratulations to both the winners and runners-up for their resilience and outstanding performance,' he added. In the girls' final, debutants Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridabad, defeated two-time champions Sanskriti School in a tense 4–3 penalty shootout, marking a sensational campaign in their maiden appearance. Palak, Nidhi, Tanisha, and Somya converted from the spot for Faridabad, while Aditi Chamoli, Amina Abdali, and Azaira Bajaj scored for Sanskriti. Coach Preeti, overwhelmed by the moment, said, 'This was our first time participating, and we honestly didn't expect to reach the final, but our girls are incredibly talented. They began their journey with us two years ago, and we taught them everything from the basics. We always believed they would achieve something big, and as a coach, I feel incredibly proud today." In the boys' final, DPS RK Puram edged past The Mother's International School in a thrilling 5–4 shootout win. DPS players Arhan Gupta, Ayush Ranjan, Afraaj Taeiq, Aarav Pahwa, and Kartik Kashyap held their nerve to seal the title. Amogh Shandilya, Daivik Bejgotra, Dhruv Tuli, and Trigya Chaturvedi converted for MIS, who fell just short. DPS head coach Gobardhan Sahoo praised the tournament's quality and structure, saying, 'This tournament is extremely well-organized and gives students a great experience. The facilities are top-notch, and everyone has been very supportive. I also think the decision to go ahead with the penalty shootout, instead of declaring joint winners, was the right one. It gave us a clear winner, and that's always better for the spirit of competition and for motivating young athletes.' Each winning team was awarded a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, along with the Oriental Cup trophy. Runners-up received ₹50,000, while the winning coaches and runner-up coaches were awarded ₹30,000 and ₹15,000, respectively. Held from July 21 to July 29, 2025, the Oriental Cup Football Tournament 2025 featured 36 participating school teams, 24 in the boys' category and 12 in the girls', from across Delhi-NCR, with matches played in a league-cum-knockout format. Recognised by the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA), the tournament has cemented its place as a premier platform for structured school-level football in the capital. With support from Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd. as the title sponsor, along with Central Park Estates (associate sponsor), Ocean Beverages (hydration partner), and Nivia Sports (football partner), the Oriental Cup continues to grow in reach and reputation.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
9 minutes ago
- First Post
India drawn in Group C for AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026; check out full schedule
India have been drawn into Group C with Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026. The Blue Tigresses will begin their campaign on March 4 in Perth. Here's a look at the full group, match schedule, and tournament format. read more India will make their first appearance in the Women's Asian Cup since 2003. AIFF will face a tough challenge at the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 after being drawn in Group C alongside Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei. The Final Draw for the tournament took place at Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. The Indian team was represented by coach Crispin Chettri and midfielder Sangita Basfore in the draw ceremony. This is the first time India will take part in the tournament in 22 years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India face tough challenge in Group C The Blue Tigresses will kick off their campaign on March 4, 2026, against Vietnam at the Perth Rectangular Stadium. Their second group match will be against powerhouse Japan on March 7 at the same venue. India's final group stage match is scheduled for March 10 against Chinese Taipei at the Western Sydney Stadium in Sydney. India are currently ranked 70th in the FIFA Women's World Rankings. Their group opponents are all higher-ranked - Japan (7th), Vietnam (37th), and Chinese Taipei (42nd). More from Football Also Read: What is the format? The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will move on to the quarter-finals of the tournament. The winners of the quarter-finals will automatically qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil. The teams that lose in the quarter-finals will still have a chance as they will play in play-offs to fight for the last two World Cup spots given to AFC. The two teams that lose in these play-offs will get one more chance through the inter-confederation play-offs. The quarter-final matches will be held between March 13 and 15, while the semi-finals are set for March 17 and 18, in Sydney and Perth. The final will take place on March 21 at Stadium Australia in Sydney. The World Cup play-off matches for the quarter-final losers will be played in the Gold Coast on March 19. Check out the full schedule Final Draw Group A: Australia, Korea Republic, IR Iran, Philippines Group B: DPR Korea, China PR, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan Group C: Japan, Vietnam, India, Chinese Taipei India's fixtures March 4, 2026: Vietnam vs India (Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth) March 7, 2026: India vs Japan (Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth) March 10, 2026: India vs Chinese Taipei (Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney)
