Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has expressed concerns over Karun Nair’s performance in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, highlighting the batsman’s inability to convert promising starts into substantial scores for the Shubman Gill-led Indian team, with pressure mounting for his spot in the playing eleven ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester starting July 23. Nair’s current form in the series has been a matter of concern, managing only 131 runs across six innings at an average of 21.83, with his highest score being 40 in the first innings of the third Test at Lord’s. The team’s failure to chase down a target of 193 at Lord’s has put additional scrutiny on the batting lineup, particularly on Nair’s position at number three. “Karun Nair has been getting brilliant 20s and 30s. He’s (Nair) scored beautiful 30 runs, beautiful cover drives and all that. But a beautiful 30 is not expected from a No. 3. You’ve got to get a not-so-beautiful 100. You need runs on the board. You need (to score) bigger. The expectation should be much higher,” Engineer told TimesofIndia.com.
Sai Sudharsan, who played in the first Test at Headingley at number three position, showed promise despite getting out for a duck in the first innings and scoring 30 runs in the second innings before being dismissed.Also Read: A Thursday with Farokh Engineer: Of BBQ, Sachin Tendulkar’s Old Trafford hundred and the wait for Sunil Gavaskar The team management opted to drop Sudharsan for the second Test, prioritizing bowling options by including all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar. “We should pick the best XI. I haven’t seen much of Sai Sudharsan. You’ve got to pick the best player for the time being. Who’s going to give you maximum? You are playing for your country. Your reputation is at stake. So, I would say, forget the age. If he’s good, play him to win this Test match,” Engineer added.
Poll
Should Karun Nair be replaced in the playing eleven for the fourth Test?
The situation becomes more complex with Rishabh Pant’s expected to play in the team as a specialist batsman in Manchester, necessitating the inclusion of Dhruv Jurel as wicketkeeper. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has indicated potential changes in the batting order, stating “His rhythm and tempo have been good. But we need more from our top three.” The team management faces a selection dilemma with multiple options available for the top-order positions, including Nair, Sudharsan, and the returning Pant. The performance in the upcoming fourth Test at Manchester could be crucial for Nair to retain his position in the team, considering the pressure from other batting alternatives and the team’s need for consistent top-order performances. The bowling combination that showed promise at Lord’s might influence the final team selection, potentially affecting the batting lineup changes for the crucial fourth Test. The team’s decision will need to balance the requirement for solid top-order batting with maintaining the effective bowling unit that performed well in the previous match.
