As Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal took a day off from practice after arriving in London for the IND vs ENG Lord’s Test, there was no break for under-fire Karun Nair. The batter, who returned to India Test team after seven years, failed to fire in the first two Tests. With Sai Sudharsan warming the bench, Nair’s place is in doubt. Hence, he did not waste any moment, hitting the nets ahead of the IND vs ENG Lord’s Test. Jasprit Bumrah, who is all set to return for the Lord’s Test, also hit the nets. India levelled the five-match series 1-1 at Edgbaston.
In the optional practice session on Tuesday, only 11 players hit the nets. Two architects of India’s win at Edgbaston, Mohd Siraj and Akash Deep, also skipped the practice session due to workload management and recovery with just a three-day gap between the two Tests. Siraj bowled 41 overs in Leeds and 31.3 overs in Birmingham. Akash Deep, who bagged his maiden Test fifer at Edgbaston, bowled 41.4 overs.
Karun Nair dilemma
India’s seven batters, including Ravindra Jadeja, managed at least one half-century in the first two Tests, barring Karun Nair. With scores of 0, 20, 31 and 26 in four innings, Nair has struggled to make a mark on two pitches that assisted batting. Even though India coach Gautam Gambhir talked about giving him a longer rope, with four opportunities lost, it would be a difficult call to keep him in India’s Playing XI, especially with youngsters waiting for a chance.
Thus, after reaching London on Monday, Nair did not want to miss the optional practice session on Tuesday, even as other batters took the day off. Nair faced Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav apart from a net bowler.
Karun Nair in Leeds & Birmingham Tests
- Total Runs: 77 runs (0, 20, 31 and 26)
- Innings: 4 innings
- Average: 19.25
- Balls Faced: 154
- Dismissal Types: Caught (4) – 2 in the slips, 1 at short cover, 1 caught and bowled.
Jasprit Bumrah goes full tilt
After being rested from the IND vs ENG Edgbaston Test to manage his workload, Jasprit Bumrah will return to India Playing XI for the Lord’s Test. And to warm up for that match, starting Thursday, Bumrah bowled for more than 30 minutes at the nets to Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan, as per a RevSportz report.
India Test captain Shubman Gill confirmed that Bumrah would be playing the Lord’s Test after missing out on Edgbaston. With the series tied at 1-1 and Lord’s expected to sport a pitch that aids seamers, Bumrah will be key to India’s success. India have won the last two out of five matches at the venue, and they would want to continue that.
After two batting paradises, England coach Brendon McCullum hinted at a change in surface at Lord’s. He has asked for a pitch that would have plenty for bowlers. On Tuesday, the Lord’s pitch had plenty of grass. However, it will be interesting to see what the final look of the pitch will be on Thursday.
