Why Karun Nair Is Not in India Playing XI for ENG vs IND 4th Test
Karun Nair has been dropped from India’s playing XI for the fourth Test against England in Manchester. He has been in good nick, but big scores eluded him, for he has been dismissed after getting starts in almost every game.
Nair has 131 runs at an average of 21.83 in six outings, including a best of 40. In the first game at Headingley, he batted at No.6 but couldn’t make a significant impact.
Consequently, he was moved to No.3 from the second game and showed encouraging signs, even though he kept getting out after looking solid in almost every innings. There were doubts over his place in the XI, and the management finally decided to drop him.
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Earlier, Indian captain Shubman Gill backed Karun to come good, but the management might have decided to give a run to someone else since they can’t afford any more hiccups in the series. Anyway, Karun hadn’t done anything significant to back his case, and even if he looked good in patches from time to time, he didn’t have a big score at all.
Also check out ENG vs IND Betting Guide for 4th Test.
Sai Sudharsan replaces Karun Nair in the XI
Sai Sudharsan, who played in the first Test at Headingley, has been recalled to the XI after being dropped in the previous two games. There were indications of his return in the XI after he was seen inspecting the pitch and doing shadow practice a day before the game.
Sudharsan made his debut in the first game and registered scores of 0 & 30 across two innings while batting at No.3. At that point, it was harsh to drop him, but the team went for a more experienced option in Karun, given he had been in great form domestically in red-ball cricket.
However, the team has again returned to Sudharsan, who is touted as a permanent No.3, given his supreme technique and ability to play long innings. He will look to make the most of this new chance and make a substantial score.
He has county experience and will look to implement it in this game, as he looks to seal his place in the XI. Sudharsan succumbed to soft dismissals on both innings in his maiden outing, and the first target should be to apply himself and try weaving big knocks.
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