Karun Nair’s international comeback has hit another stumbling block after the right-hander was dropped from India’s squad for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies. Nair, who returned to the Test setup for the first time since 2016 during the England tour, managed only 205 runs in four matches at an average of 25.62, with a top score of 57 in the final Test at The Oval.
With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having stepped away from Test cricket, the selectors had turned to Nair for experience on the tough England tour. However, his inability to produce consistent scores appears to have ended his chances, with the selectors opting to move forward.
Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik sympathised with Nair, highlighting the challenging conditions he faced in England. “The fact that Karun Nair is not looked at anymore means they are moving on from him, which is very tough. He played in one of the toughest series on difficult pitches. But in fairness, even he will look back and wonder if he could have scored more in the first three Tests. The 50 at The Oval was a fighting knock,” Karthik said.
Karthik further added that Nair might have thrived in the home series against West Indies if given another chance. “I can promise you if he was playing this series, he would get runs. The selectors probably feel they gave him a big opportunity in England and he didn’t deliver, so now they’re moving on to someone younger for the future,” he explained.
That “someone younger” is Devdutt Padikkal, who has been recalled to the Test side. The stylish left-hander missed the England tour due to injury but has impressed with consistent performances in domestic and India A fixtures.
Karthik backed the selectors’ decision, praising Padikkal’s credentials. “Devdutt being given an opportunity is a good thing. He scored 80 in Australia for India A last year, which is no easy task, and got a fifty in Dharamsala against England. He earned his stripes. It was only due to injury that Karun came in for the England series. Otherwise, Devdutt would have been there from the start. So he fully deserves his recall,” Karthik said.
With Padikkal’s return, India look to the future, while Karun Nair faces yet another battle to keep his Test career alive.
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