3 Reasons why Karun Nair deserves more chances after England series

Karun Nair returned to Team India’s scheme of things after a long gap of eight years. But his comeback series in England did not unfold the way he or his fans would have hoped.

Given his past County cricket experience and recent form with the bat — whether in domestic cricket across formats or in the practice matches ahead of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 — expectations were high from Nair. However, he managed only 205 runs in eight innings at an average of 25.62, with just a single half-century to his name.

Despite being picked in the playing XI for the first three Tests, his underwhelming performances led to him being dropped for the fourth Test in Manchester. He did return for the fifth and final Test at The Oval, but the pressure to perform only grew with each missed opportunity.

Now, with a string of low scores behind him despite getting consistent chances, questions are already being raised about whether Team India should continue investing in him.

Here are the 3 Reasons why Karun Nair deserves more chances after the England series

1. Ability to fight under pressure

Nair might have ended the England tour with only one fifty, but that knock came under immense pressure. First, it was his comeback Test at The Oval after being dropped for the fourth Test in Manchester. So, it felt like a final opportunity for him to score runs and prove his worth. 

Secondly, India were in a difficult position on a green pitch at The Oval. The visitors had lost both openers and captain Shubman Gill, and were reduced to 83/3. Coming in at number five, Nair walked out to bat while wickets kept falling at the other end. India were soon struggling at 123/5. 

He then stitched a crucial 30-run stand with Dhruv Jurel for the sixth wicket and followed it up with a vital 65-run partnership for the seventh wicket. In the process, Nair scored a gritty half-century, eventually getting out for 57 off 109 balls. He was the top scorer in that innings and played a key role in helping India post 224 in the first innings.

2. Experience and tons of runs in India

India’s next two Test series will be played at home. First, they will face West Indies in a two-match Test series in October, followed by another two-match series against the current World Test Championship (WTC) champions, South Africa, in November. 

Considering Karun Nair’s vast experience of playing on Indian pitches throughout his long domestic career, along with the loads of runs he has scored, Team India should consider backing him. He could be a player to watch in home conditions.

3. Potential no.3 option

In England, out of eight innings, Karun Nair batted in the middle order in four innings but was also given an opportunity to shine at number three. In those two games at Birmingham and Lord’s, Nair failed to capitalise on the opportunity, scoring only 111 runs in four innings at an average of 27.75. 

However, in all four innings, he looked good and stable until he got out. In Test cricket, especially at number three, a big knock is expected while playing the anchor role to ensure one end remains steady. That is where he fell short — failing to convert his starts into a big score.

But on the England tour, Sai Sudharsan was another player who got his chance at number three. Apart from one fifty, he too didn’t look very convincing (140 runs in six innings). Hence, the team management might consider giving Nair a few more chances, especially in Indian conditions, to showcase his ability at number three — a position where India is still searching for consistency and stability.

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