Karun Nair’s long-awaited return to Test cricket after eight years was meant to be a fresh chapter—filled with big runs, vital partnerships, and a statement-making comeback. Instead, it turned into a struggle for form. Following a string of underwhelming performances in the first three matches, Nair was dropped from India’s playing XI for the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
In six innings, the right-hander managed just 131 runs, prompting the team management to replace him with B Sai Sudharsan for the crucial fourth Test.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India made three changes to their line-up in Manchester. Anshul Kamboj was handed a Test debut, while Sudharsan came in for Nair and Shardul Thakur replaced Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was sidelined due to a left knee injury.
After Nair's exclusion, an emotional photo began circulating on social media, showing him being consoled by close friend and star cricketer KL Rahul.
The image quickly went viral, capturing what many assumed was the heartbreak of being dropped.
However, a TimesofIndia.com fact-check revealed that the photograph was taken during the Lord's Test, not at Old Trafford.
Nair’s comeback got off to a rocky start. In the first Test at Headingley, he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings and scored just 20 in the second. He retained his place for the second Test, posting scores of 31 and 26. A 40-run knock in the first innings of the third Test at Lord’s showed signs of promise, but he followed it up with a disappointing 14.
With his spot under increasing scrutiny, captain Shubman Gill decided to leave him out for the fourth Test.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif criticised the decision, suggesting that Gill missed an opportunity to show leadership by backing a player in need.
“Today was Shubman Gill's chance to back Karun who was down but deserved one more chance. He should have picked Karun Nair. Chance missed to earn the respect when it comes to making tough decisions as a leader,” Kaif posted on X.
England currently lead the five-match series 2-1, following their dramatic 22-run win in the third Test at Lord’s.
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match here.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less