Karun Nair Struggles in Test Comeback Against England

Karun Nair's Challenging Return to Test Cricket

Karun Nair's return to the Indian Test squad after a hiatus of over seven years has not unfolded as he had hoped. During the third Test against England at Lord's, Nair was unable to capitalize on a promising start, scoring just 40 runs before being caught by Joe Root at slip.

This isn't the first instance where Nair has struggled to make a significant impact since his comeback. Before the series opener in Leeds, he last played for India in 2017. Following impressive performances in County cricket and domestic tournaments, he was selected for the playing XI. However, his return began poorly in the Leeds Test, where he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings and managed only 20 runs in the second innings while batting at number six.

In the subsequent match at Edgbaston, Nair was moved up the batting order to replace Sai Sudharsan at number three. Yet again, he started well but failed to convert, scoring 31 and 26 in his two innings, which fell short of expectations for such a vital batting position.

There were speculations about Nair being rested for the Lord's Test, but the management opted to retain him in the lineup. Despite his 40 runs in this match, which marks his second-highest Test score after his 303*, questions linger about his place in the team. With Sai Sudharsan waiting on the sidelines, Nair's future may hinge on his performance in the second innings.

Karun Nair's Test Performance Overview

Sudharsan made his Test debut in the first match at Leeds. Although he had a rough start, he has shown improvement recently and possesses County experience. If Nair continues to struggle, the team may consider bringing Sudharsan back into the lineup as the number three batsman.