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Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Karun Nair kisses helmet in stirring celebration after double century on comeback to Indian red-ball setup
Karun Nair delivered a timely reminder of his long-format pedigree with a marathon double century on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test against the England Lions on Saturday. The right-hander's 272-ball double-ton comes at a time when India has lost two of its biggest batting stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma; furthermore, Nair is part of the Test squad for the England series. The marathon knock has boosted Nair's contention for a spot in the XI when India returns to the format in the first Test on June 20. Nair appeared assured from the outset as he made his return to Indian colours, albeit in an unofficial match. He displayed a vast array of strokes – crisp drives, powerful pulls, deft steers, and even a reverse sweep – as he punished a tiring Lions attack. His innings included 26 boundaries and a six, and he brought up his double century with a punchy four. Nair's innings came to an end after he was caught behind on 204 off 281 deliveries against Zaman Akhter. The batter, 31, was also a part of Delhi Capitals' IPL 2025 campaign, making his return to the league after three years on the back of a stellar domestic season. What makes this effort even more compelling is the absence of rival contender Sai Sudharsan from the India A tour. The left-hander, who had a breakout IPL season with Gujarat Titans, is yet to link up with the red-ball setup in England. With Abhimanyu Easwaran also part of the touring party, the fight for one of the vacant top-order spots has intensified, and Nair may have just taken a decisive lead. This is not Nair's first taste of success on English soil. He struck an unbeaten 202 for Northamptonshire in the 2024 County Championship at Edgbaston, also the venue for the second India-England Test. His familiarity with English conditions makes a compelling case for his selection for the opening match. Nair is one of only two Indian batters – the other being Virender Sehwag – to have scored a triple hundred in Test cricket; his 303* against England in 2016 remains etched in memory. Add his 328 in the Ranji Trophy and this latest double ton, and it's clear: Karun Nair doesn't do small scores.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IPL 2025: Jonny Bairstow's Virender Sehwag-like knock neutralises Gujarat Titans' 'trump card' Prasidh Krishna
Jonny Bairstow (IPL Photo) NEW DELHI: As English wicket-keeper batter Jonny Bairstow walked out to bat in his 100th Test at Dharamsala in 2024, Rohit Sharma was heard remarking, 'Isko kuch bhi daal' (Bowl any delivery to him). Rohit clearly didn't think much of Bairstow's capabilities. Even IPL franchises expressed a lack of confidence as the English cricketer went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. However, an unexpected twist of fate soon saw Bairstow walking out to the middle with Rohit Sharma in the IPL 2025 Eliminator against Gujarat Titans (GT). The English cricketer earned this recall after scoring 525 runs across 12 innings for Yorkshire at an average of 52.50 in the 2025 County Championship. The 35-year-old cricketer wasn't included in England's squads for their ODI and T20I series against West Indies, fuelling his desire to impress even more. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! However, there was a stern challenge in store for Bairstow up front as IPL 2025's leading wicket-taker Prasidh Krishna (25 dismissals) ran in to bowl the second over. Krishna had single-handedly helped GT dominate a league match against MI in Ahmedabad, picking two wickets and conceding just 18 runs. The pacer was well capable of delivering similar heroics if allowed to settle in the Eliminator. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Who's that IPL player? However, Bairstow put Krishna on the back foot from the first delivery itself, slicing the ball over point for a boundary. The English cricketer continued to dominate in the pacer's second over, smashing him for 26 runs following three sixes and two fours. Bairstow's hammering badly shook the pacer's confidence, rendering him ineffective in a do-or-die encounter. Usually, one of GT's most economical bowlers, Krishna conceded 53 runs during his spell, finishing as the team's second most expensive bowler. Poll Do you believe Jonny Bairstow can continue to perform at a high level in the IPL? Yes, definitely Maybe No, he's past his prime The English cricketer's 26-run over against Krishna reminded many of the manner in which Virender Sehwag deflated Umar Gul's confidence during the World Cup 2011 semi-final, smashing him for 21 runs in an over. Gul similarly failed to recover from Sehwag's blows early in the encounter, conceding 69 runs in 8 overs without picking a wicket. Bairstow and Rohit smashed the ball to all corners of the ground, recording MI's highest power-play score in IPL 2025 with 79 runs on the board. While the English cricketer was eventually dismissed for 47 runs off 22 balls in a knock comprising four fours and three sixes, Bairstow set a solid platform for MI, enabling them to post a match-winning total of 228. Mahela Jayawardene on Rohit Sharma: 'You cannot replace the experience' However, the English cricketer's heroics under pressure are no surprise as revealed by power-hitting coach Julian Wood, who worked with Bairstow while representing Punjab Kings (PBKS) as well as the national team. "People said, 'He's at the end of his career'. But, Bairstow is a fighter and at his most dangerous when his back is against the wall and he has to prove people wrong. He can hit any length which makes him very dangerous in the powerplay. Bairstow is very ruthless which makes him stand out a lot," said Wood during an exclusive interaction with Sai Sudharsan: 'County stints reminded me that basics are most important part of batting' "One thing which I noted especially during his knock against MI was the manner in which he handled back-of-length deliveries. I had a discussion with Bairstow during his PBKS stint over playing such deliveries with a slightly angled bat rather than a straight bat. He tried to execute my instructions against Josh Hazlewood in an IPL match and enjoyed great success, smashing him for 60 runs in four overs. Bairstow kept hitting him for a six over mid-wicket and square leg," added Wood. While Bairstow's fanbase in Mumbai will certainly rise following this knock, he may have well earned greater respect in the eyes of 'The Hitman' himself.
1News
19 hours ago
- Sport
- 1News
Kane Williamson unlikely for Black Caps' Zimbabwe tour
Former Black Caps captain Kane Williamson is unlikely to tour Zimbabwe for a two-test series starting in July, after opting out of a central contract for a second year running. However, he says he will continue to be available for the national team without being obliged to play, adding that he is still passionate about playing for his country. Williamson has arrived in London for a stint with Middlesex in the County Championship and the T20 Blast, and with London Spirit in The Hundred. He will be play in at least 10 T20 matches and five County Championship matches, through to September. Black Caps coach Gary Stead has indicated he doesn't expect Williamson to be available for the Zimbabwe tests — in Bulawayo, starting on July 30 and August 7, following seven T20 matches in Harare. In interviews on his arrival at Middlesex, Williamson has indicated that spending time his family with will be his priority outside of his cricket commitments. His wife Sarah, who is English, and their three children are with him in England. ADVERTISEMENT "It worked well last year, and obviously I'm in close conversations with New Zealand cricket, and the relationship is strong, but the landscape's changing really fast." he told The Guardian. The situation of not being on a central contract was still evolving for both parties, he said. "Yeah, we're still learning how to do it," he says. "The landscape keeps changing with the different challenges that we're presented with as cricketers. It's a work in progress. But New Zealand Cricket have been great to work with on it, I've been fortunate with that." Williamson opted out of some Black Caps series in the past year, including the tours of Bangladesh and India. The 34-year-old said he had done reflective thinking following the retirement from test cricket of India star Virat Kohli. The pair, Joe Root and Steve Smith were once dubbed the "Fab Four'' by the late Martin Crowe in an ESPN Cricinfo article. "My first thought was 'oh gosh, there's an end point'," Williamson said. "Because before that, you're on the journey, there's a pursuit there. And it's not connected to those other three, but we've all been playing at the same time, and we've all competed against each other for a long time and we all know each other pretty well. So then you do start to reflect a little bit. "I know Virat pretty well, we've chatted a lot over the years, but you do realise that we're not just cricketers as well, we're human beings and your life situation changes." ADVERTISEMENT
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
India A vs England Lions: Nair pushes Test case with 186*
Mumbai: On comeback trail, Karun Nair smashed an unbeaten 186 against England Lions to make a strong case for his selection in India's team for the first Test against England starting from June 20. Led by Nair's fine unbeaten hundred (24 fours 1 six), a composed 92 (13 fours) by Sarfaraz Khan and a fluent 82 (9 fours, 1 six) by Dhruv Jurel, the India A side made a bright start to their UK tour. At the end of the opening day of their three-day 1st unofficial Test being played at Canterbury, the tourists were 409/3 after being put into bat. These performances, with potential slots up for grabs in the Test batting line-up, are a big positive for the Indian side going into the five-match series. Following the retirement of Virat Kohli, India is banking on Nair's experience to fill the big gap in the middle-order. Nair clearly has unfinished business. In his third Test match in 2016, he had become India's second triple-centurion, and only the third man in the game's history to convert a maiden Test ton into a triple (303*). But his career seemed to grind to a halt after playing just six Tests. It's been seven years since he last featured in an Indian Test squad, on the 2018 England tour. The last Test he played was eight years ago – against Australia at Dharamshala. The hunger to make a comeback has been there to see in his performances in domestic cricket in the last two seasons. Playing for Vidarbha as a professional player, in 2023-24 Ranji Trophy he scored 690 runs, and in 2024-25 he smashed 863 runs. He also has the experience of playing in English conditions, impressing in the 2024 County Championship with 487 runs for Northamptonshire at an average of 48.70. It showed in his compact game on the opening day of the tour. Nair's only blemish on way to his 24th first-class hundred was when he edged pacer Ajeet Singh Dale but Emilio Gay, at second slip, failed to hold on. The innings was important for his batting partner Sarfaraz Khan too. The Mumbai batter is fighting to stay in contention for a comeback to the Test side. He was part of the Test side in the last series in Australia, but didn't get a chance in any of the five Tests. He was only picked for the India A matches and left out of the Test side. The main argument against Sarfaraz is that he is not a proven performer against the moving ball. In his innings on Friday he gave proof of his ability to handle swing. Both batters played with soft hands, under their eyes and by leaving with assurance they showed the right temperament. They were quick to capitalise on any error in length to keep finding the boundaries. Joining forces at the fall of opener Yashaswi Jaiswal's wicket at the total on 51, they shared a partnership of 181 runs before Sarfaraz fell at the total of 232. They had taken the total to 227/2 at tea with both in their 90s. With a century there for the taking, Sarfaraz was caught behind down the leg-side off pacer Josh Hull. Sarfaraz is a prolific scorer in first-class cricket with 4593 runs in 54 games at an average of 65.61. Although he has played all his six Test matches in India, he scored a 150 against a sharp New Zealand pace attack on a seamer-friendly pitch in Bengaluru in October, 2024. Dhruv Jurel batted at No 5 and looked at ease in the conditions, racing to his half-century off 68 balls when he hit Tom Haines for his sixth four. He also hit a six. \ The only cause of concern was when Jurel at the score of 74, copped a painful blow on his right elbow while trying to pull pacer Zaman Akhter. He resumed after taking treatment and cut the next ball for a four. India A's opening pair of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the only batters to miss out. Captain Easwaran fell leg before to Josh Hull in the sixth over for eight. Jaiswal got his eye in while scoring 24 but couldn't make the start count and was out at the total of 51 after hitting three fours and a six.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Karun Nair hits century! Is he apt replacement for Virat Kohli at no. 4?
Karun Nair has once again showcased his class with the red ball, extending a prolific run of form that began during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season with Vidarbha. His consistency has now translated into success at the international level, as he marked his return to the India A setup with a commanding century against the England Lions in Canterbury. Coming in early on Day 1, Nair took charge of the innings in the seventh over grabbing his chance with both hands. Though the surface offered no extreme challenges, it was far from a flat track. Yet, Nair, bolstered by years of domestic experience and a stint with Northamptonshire in the County Championship—adapted swiftly to the English conditions. The right-hander combined with Yashasvi Jaiswal and later Sarfaraz Khan to steady the innings, reaching his fifty off 85 balls. As the day progressed, Nair accelerated. While Sarfaraz fell just short of a hundred with 92, Nair capitalized on the opportunity, bringing up his century in 155 balls, scoring the last 50 runs in just 70 deliveries. He went on to score 186 on Day 1 at stumps as well, receiving praises all over the cricketing fraternity for a comeback which could see him book a spot in the India eleven soon as well. Karun Nair making his case stronger for number 4 spot This performance significantly boosts his chances of making the playing 11 for India's upcoming Test series at Headingley, particularly as a contender for the number four slot left vacant by Virat Kohli's absence. With Shubman Gill now preferred at No. 3 and KL Rahul settled as an opener, Nair's experience and recent form make him a strong candidate for the pivotal middle-order role. His ability to adapt to English conditions adds further weight to his selection prospects. Given the legacy of India's No. 4 spot, previously occupied by legends like Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, Nair has big shoes to fill—but the signs suggest he may be up to the challenge.
