For years, Karun Nair’s name has floated in Indian cricket conversations with a tinge of what-might-have-been. A triple centurion early in his career, his Test journey never quite found rhythm. Eight years after slipping into obscurity, he finally earned a recall for the high-profile England tour earlier this year. But four Tests later, with just 205 runs at 25.62, it seemed like the curtain had fallen once again. And yet, as fate would have it, the selectors are not done with him.
Lifeline in IND vs WI Test for Nair?
The BCCI selection meeting for the upcoming two-Test series against West Indies, originally scheduled to be announced on Wednesday during the Asia Cup, has been pushed to Thursday (today). But what has emerged from behind closed doors is intriguing: Nair, despite his modest returns in England, could be retained.
According to the Telegraph India, one influential member of the think tank believes Nair’s value is against spin. Tackling spinners would be a non-negotiable work in Indian conditions and that makes him worthy of another run. The two tests against the Windies are in Ahmedabad and New Delhi, two surfaces that can offer great amount of spin.
Padikkal, Sudharsan in the frame
Nair’s spot, however, is anything but secure. Devdutt Padikkal, fresh off a sparkling 150 for India A against Australia A, has been pressing his case hard. Shreyas Iyer, left out of the England tour, is also expected to return. Sai Sudharsan, though quiet in England, remains another contender for the middle-order berth.
Interestingly, Nair himself may have tilted the conversation in his favour at just the right moment. Hours before reports suggested he could be axed, he hammered a commanding 151* for KSCA Secretary XI against Goa in a domestic fixture, chasing down 265 almost single-handedly.
The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, now find themselves caught between prudence and potential. Do they persist with a 33-year-old who knows how to grind out runs in spin-friendly conditions, or pivot towards a younger face with a longer shelf life?
Karun Nair Test stats
| Category | Career | Without Triple Century |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 10 | 9 |
| Innings | 15 | 14 |
| Runs | 579 | 276 |
| Highest Score | 303* | 57 |
| Average | 41.35 | 19.71 |
| Balls Faced | 896 | 515 |
| Strike Rate | 64.62 | 53.59 |
| 100/50 | 1/1 | 0/1 |
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