Why was Karun Nair axed for the Manchester Test? Indian batting coach opens up

On Team India’s decision to drop Karun Nair for the Manchester Test, the Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has revealed the actual reason, asserting that with pressure building up ahead of the penultimate Test, the Indian team management wasn’t sure if Nair could cope and live up to the expectations. 

It’s important to note that Nair could score only 131 runs at an average of 21.83 in six innings in the ongoing England Test series. As Nair couldn’t get bigger scores, he was eventually replaced by Sai Sudharsan at No.3.

Furthermore, Sudharsan is expected to get a longer rope, courtesy of his excellent half-century in the first innings of the Manchester Test. However, he bagged a golden duck in the second innings against Chris Woakes.

That said, Kotak stated that it was Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir’s decision to drop Nair from the XI. Moreover, he asserted that Nair will continue to receive the backing from the Indian team management. 

"I don't think it has been a problem, to be very honest. Yes, after Karun also got a few starts and got out. And then Sai also in the first game scored 30 in the second inning and got out. But I don't think it is an area of concern, to be very honest. And the way Sai batted in the first inning was very good,” Kotak said in the post-day press conference.

"Coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill can talk about that. When Gill said we'll back Karun, he would have meant as a batter. He didn't do badly. He got starts," he added.

"The way he has batted, he has not played badly. He has got a good start every time. Sometimes, if the team management feels that at this stage, maybe in the 4th Test match, there can be pressure built on him. So if we can change it, we can do it. It does not mean that the team management is not backing him," he observed.

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