`Dear Cricket` has given Karun Nair a second chance, but he doesn`t seem to have made the most out of it in the ongoing five-match Test series against England.
Ahead of the fourth Test match, he could be the only player who can be excluded from the playing XI for Manchester`s clash.
So far in the three Test matches, Nair has got good starts, but has been failing to convert those starts into big knocks. (1st Test: 0 runs in 1st innings, 20 runs in second innings, 2nd Test: 31 runs in 1st innings, 26 runs in second innings, 3rd Test: 40 runs in first innings, 14 runs in second innings)
In the second innings of the third Test match, Nair misjudged a delivery from Brydon Carse and showed no interest in playing the ball. The delivery then led him into trouble, which made him return to the pavilion on a low score.
Karun Nair, who scored tons of runs in the domestic circuit, was expected to provide stability for Team India while batting at number three.
Currently, in the five-match Test series, India is trailing by 1-2, and the think tank needs to make a call of either providing another chance to Nair or including Sai Sudharsan in the playing XI for the fourth Test match.
The elegant left-hander did not do much wrong to be excluded, and it was done to accommodate an extra batting option at number eight.
Almost a month later, Nair making way for the 23-year-old Sudharsan at Old Trafford could be the only change in the eleven as India look to level the series in the game starting July 23.
Additionally, it will be interesting to see if Team India`s think tank makes lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah play the fourth Test match. If he makes his appearance in the fourth Test, the visitors will then miss his services for the fifth Test, which could turn out to be a decider if they come victorious in the fourth clash.
With Shubman Gill`s men intensely competing with the home team, the series is expected to go down to the wire. Barring the one change in batting, India won`t be looking at wholesale changes.
In the bowling department, Kuldeep Yadav will have to wait more than before, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar doing a good job.
(With PTI Inputs)
