Indian skipper Shubman Gill at the toss said that Karun Nair was dropped from the fourth Test in Manchester, just a day after backing his run of form so far in the series.
India lost the toss yet again and Ben Stokes, as is normal with him, asked the Indian team to bat first. India made as many as three changes with Shardul Thakur replacing Nitish Kumar Reddy, Anshul Kamboj getting his maiden Test cap and Sai Sudharsan replacing Nair in the XI.
Karun Nair played all three previous Tests and scored 131 runs at an average of 21.83 with a top-score of 40. However, he lost his wicket at the wrong time. He had an opportunity to score crucial runs in the second innings of the Lord’s Test with India needing 135 runs to win on the final day, but he failed.
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Gill, in the press conference before the fourth Test, said that Nair was batting well. After a terrific knock of 204 runs for India A in the first unofficial Test against England Lions, he raised the expectations around him.
"Yes, we have had conversations with him [Karun Nair], but we think he is batting well. Sometimes it's not. First match he didn't really play at his number. It's difficult when a player is making a comeback in a series like this, you know. But I don't think there's been any issue with his batting," Gill told the media before the fourth Test.
Meanwhile, former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has now taken a dig at Shubman Gill for not backing Karun Nair in the fourth Test. He said that as a captain, Gill failed to earn some respect from Nair.
Chance Missed To Earn Respect - Md Kaif On Shubman Gill
“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,” he wrote on his X handle.
Also Read: India vs England: India Registers 14th Straight Coin Toss Loss
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100 Up For India In Manchester
Meanwhile, the Indian team has crossed the 100-run mark in the second session. Chris Woakes dismissed KL Rahul for 46 runs just after lunch, ending a 94-run stand between the openers. Yashasvi Jaiswal crossed his half-century post-lunch as well.
Also read: Who Is Anshul Kamboj - The 24-Year-Old Who Made His Test Debut In Manchester
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