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Karun Nair forced his way back into the national reckoning after a surprising domestic season but on the England tour thus far, he continues to flatter to deceive.
Karun Nair walks off the sphere after being dismissed at Lord’s. (AP Photo)
It hasn’t been a glad comeback to international cricket for Karun Nair thus far. Having fallen off the selector’s radar despite a surprising triple-century in what was just the third Test of his profession all the best way back in 2016, Nair forced the team to have re-look after bountiful domestic outings.
It was some of the highly anticipated returns given the shape the 33-year-old had shown in first-class cricket. Nonetheless, in five innings thus far, the top-order batter has mustered just 117 runs while averaging 23.40. And that is on pitches where thus far 13 centuries including a double-hundred from India captain Shubman Gill and 13 half-centuries have been scored.
Not that Karun has looked woefully out of touch. There have been a minimum of three occasions where he appeared to have gotten the starts but has didn’t convert.
On Friday, after England were bowled out for 387, Nair walked in to bat at no.3 after the early dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal. He did well against fast bowler Jofra Archer who was respiration fire with the brand new ball and scored 40 but then was brilliantly caught by Joe Root off Ben Stokes.
Nonetheless, legendary India spinner and a former captain Anil Kumble reckons Nair has had a “solid series” aside from one innings where he was out for a duck (2nd Test at Edgbaston).
“He’s (Nair) had a solid series overall, aside from that one innings,” Kumble said on JioHotstar. “In his comeback match, he has consistently got starts – 20s, 30s – and today he got into the 40s. He survived Archer’s harsh early spell and commenced looking comfortable. A few of his cover drives were beautiful to look at. Nevertheless it was one in every of those dismissals – he edged a great delivery, and Joe Root took a surprising low catch. That’s difficult, especially with the slope at Lord’s. No surprise he’s one of the best catcher on this match.”
India were jolted early when in-form Jaiswal fell to Archer on 13. Nonetheless, KL Rahul and Nair settled the nerves, with a solid 63-run partnership for the second wicket.
Gill had a rare failure on the tour as he was dismissed for 16 by Woakes.
Rahul though continued and recorded a patient half-century to stay unbeaten on 53 off 113 on the close of play with India 145/3.
“It was implausible. A typical KL Rahul innings where he needed to grind it out,” Kumble said. “It was a fiery spell from Jofra Archer – especially that first spell where he clocked over 150 km/h, with steep bounce and a little bit of swing early on. KL countered all of that brilliantly.
“He (Kumble) was clinical in his approach and looked on top of things. It was a really disciplined and mature knock, and I’m sure he’ll be satisfied with how he played,” he added.
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and all the pieces that’s cricket from all around the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and all the pieces that’s cricket from all around the globe. Follow @cricketnext
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