
EXCLUSIVE Inside Karun Nair's remarkable comeback: India star was exiled to the wilderness with 'no explanation' and broke down in tears on his wife's birthday... here's how the veteran turned it around to win a Test lifeline
Nair, now 33, was part of the India squad for the Test series against England in 2018. He was reduced to carrying drinks for the first four Tests but with England 3-1 up going into the dead rubber at The Oval, felt he would get his chance. It was during the meeting inside this hotel before the fifth Test that Nair discovered he wasn't playing when the team was put on the big screen. The selectors opted for Hanuma Vihari, who was only called into the squad before the fourth Test. To this day, Nair admits that no one explained why he was snubbed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
2 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rockets win after Hose suffers serious ankle injury
The Hundred men's competition, Trent BridgeSouthern Brave 140-4 (100 balls): Du Plooy 55 (34); Stoinis 2-18Trent Rockets 145-6 (96 balls): Moores 55 (30); Thompson 2-17 Trent Rockets won by four wicketsScorecard. Table Trent Rockets steadied themselves to secure a four-wicket victory over Southern Brave in the men's Hundred after batter Adam Hose earlier suffered a serious ankle was taken to hospital after dislocating his right ankle in the field - an incident that resulted in the match being paused for 10 minutes - during Brave's 140-4.A batter down in Hose's absence, the Rockets then slipped to 60-4 in their chase with Joe Root out for Tom Moores came in and hit a thrilling 55 from 30 balls while opener Tom Banton made 49 from 38 as they combined in a crucial stand of Moores was playing his first match in this year's tournament, having been drafted in from outside of Rockets' squad after injuries to their two wicketkeepers, Banton and Tom Alsop, which prevented them taking the fast hands, Moores targeted the leg side and thrashed five sixes and four fours before being caught at mid-off with five runs needed from 11 nicked Tymal Mills behind next ball but, on his birthday, Marcus Stoinis powered a six to seal the win with four balls to win moves Rockets level on points with leaders Northern Superchargers while Brave drop to fourth. What is happening on Sunday? The highlight of Sunday's action is the cross-Pennine derby between Manchester Originals and Northern women's game at Old Trafford begins at 11:00 BST and the men's 14: Phoenix also host London Spirit on Sunday. The women's game is at 14:30 and then men's 18: can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.


The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Richarlison nets scissor kick as Thomas Frank enjoys dream start at Tottenham
A sensational scissor kick by Richarlison ensured Thomas Frank enjoyed a dream start to life with Tottenham in the Premier League as they recorded a 3-0 victory over Burnley. Frank's managerial debut for Spurs on Wednesday almost ended with silverware, but Paris St Germain fought back from two down late on to clinch Super Cup success on penalties. With a lack of creative options due to injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, former Brentford head coach Frank had warned newly-promoted Burnley would pose a stern test and yet a double by Richarlison secured a first league win since April 6. Richarlison's second goal in the 60th minute was a superb volley from a Mohammed Kudus cross and Brennan Johnson added another six minutes later on a tough top-flight return for Burnley boss Scott Parker at his old club. Spurs had been minutes away from Super Cup success, but a protest by fan group Change for Tottenham was still arranged for pre-match and yet only gathered a very small attendance. A huge cheer welcomed Frank into his new home stadium and one of the three players he brought in from the PSG loss almost grabbed a 25-second opener. Kudus picked out the recalled Lucas Bergvall, but his close-range shot was thwarted by Burnley debutant Martin Dubravka. Dubravka was one of the first goalkeepers to be penalised for the new eight-second rule and not long after, picked the ball out of his net. Kudus again provided the creativity for Spurs as he got down the right and cut back for Richarlison to impressively steer the ball into the bottom corner. It would not open the floodgates, though, as Burnley worked their way back into the contest with a Lyle Foster shot deflected over by Cristian Romero before Maxime Esteve and Josh Lauren squandered opportunities. Mathys Tel, who received racist abuse earlier this week after a missed penalty against PSG, received warm applause from the Tottenham fans when he went to warm-up for the first time and the opening 45 ended with Guglielmo Vicario forced to tip over a chipped effort by visiting midfielder Laurent. Parker would have presumably been happy with Burnley's level on their return to top-flight action, but they wasted two more chances soon after half-time. A quick breakaway ended with Pape Sarr being able to thwart Hannibal before Jaidon Anthony fizzed an effort straight at Vicario, which could come back to haunt the newly-promoted club when Spurs made it 2-0 on the hour mark. Kudus skipped away from Quilindschy Hartman on the right and picked out Richarlison, who produced an incredible scissor kick into the bottom corner. It sparked big celebrations and they were repeated six minutes later when Johnson added a classy third. Sarr pinched the ball off Richarlison's toes and spotted the run of Johnson, who took a touch and calmly poked the ball past Dubravka after being left on the bench versus PSG. Frank emptied his bench soon after and Dominic Solanke sent one effort wide as it finished 3-0.


The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sunderland beat West Ham on return to Premier League
Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League in style with a 3-0 win over West Ham at the Stadium of Light. Following an eight-year absence from the top flight, the Black Cats withstood some promising attacks spearheaded by Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen in the first half and after the break it was their Championship play-off heroes who proved to be the difference. They went ahead through Eliezer Mayenda's header and Dan Ballard soon extended the advantage, nodding home into the same spot as his last-gasp winner against Coventry in the play-off semi-finals. Substitute Wilson Isidor struck in added time to wrap up three points in Sunderland's first Premier League appearance since May 2017. Sunderland have made 11 signings so far this window and seven of those new arrivals were handed their first starts, with Trai Hume, Ballard and Mayenda the sole survivors from the starting XI who beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final. There were two new signings making their West Ham debuts as El Hadji Malick Diouf and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen both started and new signing Callum Wilson made the bench. Bowen threatened in the early stages, weaving through the home defence and forced a low stop from Robin Roefs at his near post before Hermansen denied Habib Diarra at the other end. The visitors began to grow in confidence, with Bowen causing particular problems and the Hammers skipper was at the heart of a brilliant chance, beginning a move which saw Diouf blast a first-time effort on goal, but Ballard made a superb block. As half-time approached, Sunderland won a series of corners, where Hermansen made a comfortable collection from Ballard's header. The hosts had an early opportunity in the second half when Mayenda managed to keep the ball in and cut a pass back into Simon Adingra, but he sliced his effort wide. Regis Le Bris made an enforced change as Jenson Seelt was taken off with an injury while challenging for the ball and Omar Alderete – who joined the club on Tuesday – came on for his debut. Diarra continued to impress for the hosts, winning a corner following a good break down the right before blasting an effort over the bar. Mayenda then found the breakthrough for Sunderland in the 61st minute when Alderete fired a looping cross into the box and the striker jumped high to nod into the bottom corner. West Ham made a double substitution as Tomas Soucek and former Newcastle striker Wilson were introduced, but the hosts extended their lead in the 73rd minute. Adingra picked out Ballard on the left side of the box and the centre-half fired a header into the bottom corner. The Hammers looked to strike in the final stages, but Bowen's flicked header from a corner was blocked and Soucek's tame effort was held by Roefs. The Sunderland goalkeeper made a great stop to tip Wilson's deflected header from a free-kick over the bar in the 88th minute. Isidor then capped off an impressive afternoon for Sunderland two minutes into added time after cutting in from the left and rolling a cool finish into the corner.