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Hindustan Times
4 days 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.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Tracing Karun Nair's remarkable comeback in Indian cricket: From being dropped to scoring a century in England
As Usman Ghani watched, from Vidarbha's dressing room, Karun Nair bat as if he had been possessed by the spirit of Don Bradman in game after game during the Vijay Hazare Trophy early this year, he remembered a conversation he had had with the born-again cricketer. Unreal run And after his unreal run in India's premier fifty-over tournament, with scores of 112 not out, 44 not out, 163 not out, 111 not out, 112, 122 not out, and 88 not out in successive innings, Karun had hopes of making it to the Indian team for the Champions Trophy. Ghani, too, felt Karun would be picked. But, he wasn't. His comeback to international cricket would have to wait. Not any longer, though. Karun was first named in the India-A side for the England tour. And then in the Indian Test squad. There was almost an air of inevitability to it: even if the last Test he played was eight years ago. This is indeed one of Indian cricket's most remarkable comebacks. Something even Mohinder Amarnath, the father of all comebacks, may approve of. ALSO READ | The rise and rise of the young Indian cricketers The selectors could afford to ignore Karun for the Champions Trophy: they had the cushion of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, after all. Karun, however, continued to amass runs against the red ball, too, and played a major role in Vidarbha regaining the Ranji Trophy. His 135 in the second innings shut Kerala out of the final; he could have scored a hundred in the first innings as well, but was run out for 86. He swept and reverse-swept to neutralise the threat from Kerala's best bowler Jalaj Saxena. His determination to take his side to a position from where it could not lose was admirable. The ability to play long innings has always been one of his qualities, something the Test team could find useful. Ghani is also impressed by Karun's dedication. 'He gives his best every time, even at the nets, and I was so happy when the selectors finally had to select him,' the coach told The Hindu over the phone from Nagpur. 'Like him, I too was disappointed when he was not picked for the Champions Trophy. And he was feeling low.' But not for long. He had a chat with a certain Sachin Tendulkar on the phone. 'Atul Ranade, assistant coach at Vidarbha and Sachin's close friend, made it possible,' recalled Ghani. 'Karun was motivated by his conversation with the master. He told me he felt a lot better after that chat.' ALSO READ | Testing times: On India's new Test Captain A costly 'no' Ghani believes Vidarbha was fortunate to secure Karun's services. He had been dropped by Karnataka in 2022, and when he expressed a desire to play for Kerala, the State of his origin, its cricket administrators were not keen. That was probably the costliest 'no' after Shatrughan Sinha rejected Ramesh Sippy's offer of the role that eventually was enacted by Amitabh Bachchan in Sholay. Unlike many Malayalis who grew up outside Kerala, Karun speaks fluent Malayalam. After scoring a hundred for India-A against South Africa-A in the unofficial Test at Krishnagiri in Kerala back in 2015, he told the Kerala Cricket Association's media manager that he was hoping for a few questions in Malayalam at the press conference. Incidentally, that hundred proved timely, as he was flown out as a replacement for the injured M. Vijay in India's Test squad in Sri Lanka. Ahead of the Ranji Trophy final in Nagpur, however, Karun got plenty of opportunities to speak in Malayalam. There was a large media contingent from Kerala to cover the team's first-ever Ranji Trophy final. He spoke with a smile about the KCA's snub. He also talked about how he battled his way back into contention for a place in the Indian team after that poignant tweet of his, 'Dear cricket, give me another chance', following his omission from the Karnataka team in 2022. He admitted it was a very low phase in his life. And he is someone who has experienced the kind of high only one other Indian Test batter has. In 2016, against England at Chennai, he made a monumental 303 not out, in what was only his third Test innings. Only Virender Sehwag had scored a Test triple-hundred before for India, and, of course, none has since. Karun, however, was dropped for the following Test, against Bangladesh at Hyderabad a couple of months later, because Ajinkya Rahane, whose injury had paved his way into the team in Chennai, was back. Karun made his return during the home series against Australia, but the fourth Test at Dharamsala would prove to be his last. That was in 2017. Eight years later, he could very well be batting in the middle-order at Leeds in the first Test against England next month. ALSO READ | Gill pads up for captaincy innings He will have earned that privilege the hard way. His experience in county cricket should come in handy. He scored 202 not out against Glamorgan last season and 150 against Surrey in 2023. 'The county stint has helped me to understand my game more, the different ways of playing and that there will be times a batsman finds it tough to score runs, but it is important to hang in there and play the ball on its merit,' said Karun. 'In England, you realise the ball is swinging all day and you may not get to play any spinners the whole day. The experience convinced me my game is good enough to play in any conditions. I have taken that confidence to India.' His confidence got a further boost when he was made the Vidarbha captain for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. 'The added responsibility brought the best of Karun,' said Ghani. 'This year he has been more aggressive in his batting. I said to him — 'Karun, why don't you express yourself more?'' He certainly did. And not just with the bat. ALSO READ | Cometh the hour, cometh Bumrah! Sending a message When he scored that hundred in the Ranji final, he raised nine fingers to indicate it was his ninth of the season. When asked if it was only meant for the dressing room, as the national selectors were also present at the VCA Stadium, he smiled mischievously and said, 'You can take it however you like'. After the match, selector Subroto Banerjee shook hands with him. And Karun smiled broadly. He knew he must have impressed him. But it hadn't been easy to catch the selectors' eyes in a country brimming over with batting talent. And he had to inch his way back from being a forgotten man of Indian cricket. 'You can imagine how difficult that phase of my life must have been,' he said. 'My parents and my wife were my pillars all through. And those times made me understand people. When times are good, there will be a lot of people with you.' The good times are back again for Karun. And it could be good news, too, for the most inexperienced Indian batting line-up in years.
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Business Standard
4 days 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.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Karun Nair scores century on comeback during India A vs England Lions
Karun Nair marked his return to India A with a century on the opening day of the first unofficial Test against England Lions in Canterbury on Friday. The 33-year-old reached his hundred in 155 deliveries, his 24th First-Class century. Nair earned a place in the 18-member squad for the upcoming five-match England series, returning to the side after eight years. He was recalled following a strong domestic season, where he scored 863 runs in nine matches at an average of 54, helping Vidarbha secure its third Ranji Trophy title. Nair last played for India in 2017 against Australia in Dharamsala. He has six Tests under his belt, with 374 runs at an average of 67, including a memorable triple century — only the second by an Indian batter after Virender Sehwag.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Karun Nair makes dream start to England tour with century for India A, Ashwin hails comeback with strong ‘No.3' reaction
Karun Nair kickstarted his return to the national setup with a brilliant century during India A's unofficial Test against England Lions on Friday. The Vidarbha batter, who made his return to the Indian Test squad after over 8 years for the five-match series against England, produced a dominant performance on Day 1 of the unofficial Test, reaching his three-figure mark in just over 150 deliveries. India A endured a shaky start on a seamer-friendly surface, but Nair and Sarfaraz Khan produced a resilient fightback to put the visitors in control. After being asked to bat first on a damp and overcast morning, India A lost both openers within the first hour. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who looked compact early on, edged one to the slip cordon off Eddie Jack after a watchful 24, while Abhimanyu Easwaran's search for redemption fell flat again, trapped in front by Josh Hull for a scratchy 8. At 38/2, the hosts were firmly on top. But just when the England Lions sensed early dominance, Nair and Sarfaraz stitched together a commanding 181-run partnership that turned the tide. Nair, returning to the longer format spotlight, looked assured and fluent from the outset. He brought up a well-paced hundred, soaking up pressure and unleashing his strokeplay once set. Sarfaraz, meanwhile, was his typically aggressive self, counterattacking with boundaries and disrupting the rhythm of the English bowlers. His 92 off 124 balls was laced with 13 boundaries and reflected both flair and composure, before Hull returned to break the partnership. Dhruv Jurel's arrival steadied the innings further, as he provided sensible support to Nair, who continued to anchor the innings with authority. The momentum, firmly seized back by India A, left the England Lions' bowlers searching for answers on a pitch that had initially offered them plenty. While the openers faltered, the middle-order showed grit, patience, and class — an encouraging sign for the Indian setup with key Test spots on the line.
