'A Beautiful 30 Is Not...': India Great Slams Karun Nair, Calls For Change
Farokh Engineer criticizes Karun Nair's performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, urging him to score big. Nair's spot is threatened by Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel.
Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has criticised Karun Nair's lack of significant contributions for the Shubman Gill-led side in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He believes India expects more than just 'beautiful' 30s from him, and that he needs to score big no matter how unattractive it looks.
Nair has managed just 131 runs in six innings at 21.83 with a best score of 40 in the first innings of the third Test at Lord's. The team's inability to chase 193 in the game has put the batting department under the scanner. Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel are breathing down Nair's neck, and his time might be running out.
'Karun Nair has been getting brilliant 20s and 30s. He's (Nair) scored beautiful 30 runs, beautiful cover drives and all that. But a beautiful 30 is not expected from a No. 3. You've got to get a not-so-beautiful 100. You need runs on the board. You need (to score) bigger. The expectation should be much higher," Engineer told The Times of India.
Sudharsan played in the first Test at Headingley at number three with Nair coming at six. The left-hander got stranded down the leg and was out for a duck in the first innings. He played much better in the second, looking assured for his 30 before flicking one to mid-wicket.
He was dropped for the second Test as India looked for more bowling options and went with all-rounders in Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar.
Can Karun Nair be replaced in Manchester?
Nair's place in the team is under further threat because Rishabh Pant is unlikely to keep wickets but will play as a specialist batter in Manchester. That means the team will need to bring in Jurel. Given the bowling balance seemed fine at Lord's, they might look at Jurel.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also hinted at a change in the top-three.
'His rhythm and tempo have been good. But we need more from our top three," Doeschate told the media on Thursday.
The fourth Test begins on July 23.
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