The 33-year-old Indian veteran has had difficulty establishing himself in the Test series, even though he began his England tour with a double century for India A against the England Lions.
He has only amassed 131 runs at an average of 21.83 in six innings thus far. In this series, his greatest score is a mere 40.
Karun Nair’s Struggles at Lord’s: A Concern for Team India?
Karun Nair’s much-anticipated return to Test cricket has been underwhelming, especially after his latest outing at Lord’s in the third Test against England.
He managed to score 40 runs in the first innings before being caught at slip off a delivery from Ben Stokes. In the second innings, Nair was dismissed for just 14 after misjudging an incoming delivery from Brydon Carse, which struck his pad and led to an LBW decision.
These dismissals have raised serious questions about Nair’s ability to read and handle various types of deliveries. Whether it’s an in-swinger, an out-swinger, or a short ball, Nair has fallen to all kinds this series.
Starts Without Substance: A Pattern Repeating
A look at Nair’s recent scores shows a worrying trend: 0, 20, 31, 26, 40, and 14. He’s getting starts but not converting them. This is especially disappointing considering the fact that this series marks his first Test appearance since 2017.
Brydon Carse has been particularly effective against Nair, dismissing him three times in the series. Ben Stokes has accounted for him twice, while Chris Woakes has taken his wicket once. With no consistent mode of dismissal, it seems Nair’s struggles are more mental than technical.
A 303 That Still Defines His Career*
Karun Nair’s triple century against England in 2016 remains a historic moment in Indian cricket. But since that innings, he has failed to cross 50 even once in 12 more Test innings.
His highest score since that epic 303* is a modest 40. With just one fifty-plus score in 13 Test innings, his spot in the team is now under serious threat. Despite a decent average of 42.08, those numbers are heavily skewed by that one marathon knock.
A Comeback Losing Steam
When Nair was recalled for this England series, it was seen as a golden chance for redemption. Unfortunately, he is the only top-order batsman across both teams yet to score a half-century.
His latest dismissal—leaving a straight ball from Carse—only adds to the growing narrative that he is not yet up to speed with the demands of international cricket after a long break.
What Lies Ahead for Nair?
With a break before the fourth Test in Manchester, team management faces a tricky decision. Do they persist with Nair, hoping he finally delivers? Or do they hand the No. 3 spot to young left-hander Sai Sudharsan, who has been impressive in domestic cricket?
Another contender is the uncapped Abhimanyu Easwaran, a consistent performer in the domestic circuit who has been on the fringes of selection for a while.
Backing Nair could be a show of faith, given he hasn’t looked entirely out of place. But in a high-stakes series, performance is the only currency that matters—and right now, Nair’s bank account is running low.