Karun Nair, making his return to the Indian XI, scored an unbeaten 52 on a challenging pitch in the fifth Test against England—his first half-century since 2016.
Karun Nair’s Gritty Fifty Marks a Stunning Comeback
When India captain Shubman Gill fumbled while announcing the team changes, one name he didn’t miss was Karun Nair. His inclusion in place of Shardul Thakur was no surprise, aligning with the team management’s consistent preference for an eight-batter strategy throughout the five-Test series. With Rishabh Pant ruled out and Nitish Kumar Reddy unavailable, a return for Nair seemed inevitable.
Yet, Karun Nair’s “second chance” in this series had, until now, failed to deliver. In six innings, the seasoned right-hander couldn’t convert starts into a single half-century, and his omission from the Old Trafford Test looked like the end of the road. But Nair, known for his resilience, proved that writing him off too soon is always a mistake.
Back in the XI and under immense pressure, Nair delivered when India needed him most. At stumps on Day 1 of the fifth Test at The Oval, he was unbeaten on 52 — his first 50-plus score in Test cricket since that historic 303* against England in Chennai back in 2016. And he did it on arguably the toughest surface of the series: a green top under overcast skies, where the ball moved all day.
Coming in after a mix-up that led to Gill’s run-out, Nair held firm. Batting at No.5 — a position that finally seemed to bring him some luck — he struck seven boundaries in his 98-ball knock, helping India to 204/6 at stumps and keeping their hopes of a series-levelling victory alive.
Karun Nair’s Gritty Fifty Revives Career Hopes
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik praised Karun Nair’s resilient half-century on Day 1 of the fifth Test, calling it a potential turning point in the batter’s career. Battling challenging conditions, Nair’s composed innings drew admiration from several experts.
“Well played, Karun Nair. That’s a high-quality fifty in real tough conditions. Karun Nair’s career is well and truly back. If he hadn’t played this Test, then the team management could well have looked beyond him,” Karthik said during commentary.
Former India pacer Varun Aaron echoed similar sentiments, highlighting Nair’s improved technique. Known for his vulnerability outside the off stump, Nair had often paid the price for hard hands in the series — but not this time.
“This could have been his last chance, but he has capitalised. The pitch was doing a lot, but Karun Nair is standing tall. What stood out was his purposeful attempt to have soft hands to deliveries outside off stump,” Aaron observed on JioHostar.