Karun Nair is likely to play in the Manchester Test despite his top score being just 40 so far in the England series.
Earlier, multiple reports suggested that Nair might have run out of chances and that he might not get a place in the 4th Test.
But then came the twist—Karun Nair was spotted in a deep discussion with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. And this wasn’t your regular team chat. This looked more like a private batting tuition session.
And then came the grind—intense indoor nets, focused drills, and Karun batting like a man on a mission. Like he had a point to prove—and maybe a deadline to meet.
Shubman Gill also put his weight behind Nair. "We think Karun is batting well. Sometimes it's not... First match, he didn't really play at his number. It's difficult when a player is making a comeback in a series like this, you know, but I don't think there's been any issue with his batting. I think he's been batting well,' he stated.
And Gill isn't wrong. Every time Nair has batted in this series, he hasn’t looked out of form at all. So, is it just a matter of one good knock? The Indian skipper certainly thinks so.
"Sometimes it's also about getting that click, you know. Once you are able to make your 50, then you’re able to get back into your zone and get some big runs. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened for him so far, but we are hopeful that he will be able to turn it around." So yeah, going by what Gill said, it does feel like Karun Nair has received one more lifeline.
8 long years. That’s how long he waited. 8 years of grind, of silence, of fading headlines and unanswered questions. And when the moment finally arrived, the second chance he had begged the game for, he looked ready. But readiness is not the same as redemption. And if he doesn’t produce a big score this time, cricket may not give him another.
