Anil Kumble picks this player to fill Virat Kohli's no.4 spot in Test Cricket, it's not Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill or KL Rahul
Anil Kumble. (PIC - X)
New Delhi: For the last ten years, Virat Kohli has been India's fixture at No. 4 in Test cricket. However, after his recent announcement of stepping back from the format, the Indian team management now faces the task of finding an appropriate replacement for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. The Indian squad is set to travel to England in June, with the series beginning in Leeds.
KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are considered top contenders for the important No. 4 spot in India's batting lineup. Moreover, ex-Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has proposed that Karun Nair might be a strong option for the role. Kumble, now a well-regarded cricket pundit, feels Nair has the abilities required to succeed at this level.
'I don't think anybody thought through who's going to bat at No. 4. Rohit in Australia didn't play the first Test, so there was a change in the batting order. Once Rahul did well, Rohit dropped down the order, and then he dropped himself from the XI in that last Test. So you sort of know who is the backup opener for India, but I don't think anyone thought through No.4,' was quoted as saying to ESPNCricinfo.
'Karun deserves to come back into the Indian team with the kind of domestic run he has had. So perhaps he could be the No. 4 for India because I feel you need a bit of experience. You need someone in England who has been there and done that. He has played county cricket, so he knows the conditions. Karun may be on the other side of 30, but he is still young. If he gets an opportunity, there will be a lot more hope for youngsters to play first-class cricket. If the sheer performance in domestic cricket doesn't get recognised, it becomes a bit of a challenge,' he concluded.
Karun Nair, one of just two Indian players to score a triple century in Test cricket, has been in remarkable form playing for Vidarbha in domestic tournaments. His impressive batting displays have set him up for a possible return to the Test team after almost eight years, with the chance to join the squad for the upcoming series in England.
Karun Nair's most recent Test appearance was in 2017 against Australia in Dharamsala, and he has not been called up to the national side since the 2018 England tour. However, he is likely to be named in the India A squad for the upcoming series against the England Lions, which will feature two four-day matches during the May-June period. This series will act as preparation for the five-match Test series against England. A standout performance in these games could open the door for Nair's return to the international arena.
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