Ajit Agarkar explains Karun Nair’s snub from India’s Test squad for West Indies series

The BCCI announced India’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against the West Indies, and notably, Karun Nair was one of six players from the England tour who failed to retain their place. Nair, who had made a comeback to the Test side during the five-match England series, could not make a lasting impression, which has seemingly led to his exclusion.

During the England tour, the Karnataka batter featured in four out of five Tests but managed just 205 runs in eight innings at a modest average of 25.62. His only significant contribution was a half-century, with 57 being his highest score which came in the fifth and final Test at the Oval in London.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, when asked about Nair’s absence, offered a candid assessment that hinted at a possible end to the batter’s Test career. Agarkar stated that more was expected from Nair during the high-profile England series, and unfortunately, he didn’t deliver when it mattered most.

Agarkar further justified the decision by highlighting that Devdutt Padikkal currently offers more value and promise to the side. The left-handed batter has been knocking on the door with consistent domestic and India A performances, and the selectors have clearly opted to invest in emerging talent over experienced names not living up to expectations.

“We expected more from Karun Nair. It can't be just one innings. Padikkal offers more. We would like to give 15-20 chances to everyone, but it is not possible in these circumstances," Agarkar said during the press conference.

Karun Nair’s response to Test squad snub for WI series

Meanwhile, Karun Nair was lost for words after being dropped from the Test team for the upcoming Test series. The 33-year-old noted that he was the one who scored a half-century in the first innings of the Oval Test when all the other batters failed to contribute.

“Yes, I did expect the selection. I don't know what to say. No words. I don't have any much comments to make. It's very difficult for me to answer. You should probably ask the selectors on what they're thinking. Only thing is, in the last Test match, I got a 50 when no one else scored in the first innings. So year, I thought I contributed to the team and especially in the last game that we won. But yeah, it is what it is. Those things don't matter,” Nair said while speaking to the Times of India.

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