Gill defended the match by saying, “We feel Karun is batting well, it is just difficult for him to find rhythm.”
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said that it is unfortunate that Karun Nair could not take advantage of the second chance he got in international cricket. In the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Nair scored 0 and 20 runs while playing at number six. He was then sent to number three in place of Sai Sudarshan, and in the next two Tests he could only score 31, 26, 40 and 14 runs.
Cricket gave him a chance, but he couldn’t make it count: Sanjay Manjrekar
Manjrekar referred to an old viral tweet of Nair, ‘Cricket give me another chance’, and said that despite getting opportunities in the England tour, the batsman could not make use of the opportunities. Due to this, the batsman was dropped from the team ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, and Sudharsan was once again included in the playing XI.
During the fourth Test, Manjrekar said on air, “It was an emotional story where he said, ‘Cricket, give me another chance’. Cricket gave him another chance. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it count and, you know, now Sai Sudharsan is making a comeback. It’s good to see Sai Sudharsan back, because I felt that, he should have played the second Test as well.”
Unfortunately, Karun could not score many runs- Gill
Sanjay told that, it seemed that 33-year-old Nair would be retained in the playing XI, as Indian captain Shubman Gill defended Nair’s poor performance in the pre-match press conference.
Gill had said in the pre-match press conference that, “We feel that Karun is batting well. In the first match, he did not play at his number (at number six). When a player is making a comeback in such a series, it is difficult. But I don’t think there is any problem with his batting.”
“Sometimes it is also about getting the rhythm. Once you complete your half-century, you can get back to your rhythm and score some big runs. Unfortunately, this has not happened for him yet.”
FAQ
What did Sanjay Manjrekar say about Karun Nair?
Sanjay Manjrekar commented that Karun Nair was given another opportunity to play at the highest level, but he failed to make the most of it.
When did Karun Nair get this new opportunity?
Karun Nair was recalled during the ENG vs IND 2025 Test series, possibly due to injuries or rotation in the Indian squad.
What was expected from Karun Nair in this comeback?
Fans and selectors hoped he would deliver strong performances and prove his value in the middle order, especially after his past success, including a Test triple century.
How did Karun Nair perform in the 2025 series?
His performances were below expectations, and he struggled to score runs, which led to criticism and disappointment from former cricketers like Manjrekar.
Why is Karun Nair’s case so talked about?
Because despite being one of the few Indian players to score a Test triple century, Karun has struggled to maintain a place in the national team, making his career a subject of debate.
