Karun Nair delivered a composed innings amid an otherwise disappointing day for India’s batting lineup in the fifth Test.
Karun Nair’s Test Redemption: Grit Amid Chaos
Just over a week ago, Karun Nair might have feared his second Test chance had slipped through his fingers. After eight long, turbulent years in the wilderness, his return to the Indian side yielded a string of low scores: 0, 20, 31, 26, 40, and 14 — promising starts that never quite became substance. Thrust into unfamiliar roles — No. 6 in the first Test and No. 3 in the next two — he soldiered on without complaint, knowing he couldn’t afford to be picky.
His omission from the Old Trafford Test was expected, even fair. He hadn’t failed outright, but he hadn’t cemented his place either. But then came The Oval — a green-top, ironically at a venue famed for being batting-friendly. With Rishabh Pant still unavailable, India needed solidity over flash, and Karun Nair got one more shot. The pressure was immense: India at 83/3, Shubman Gill run out, chaos all around. Karun had to lead a recovery — technically, mentally, emotionally.
He watched Sudharsan and Jadeja fall to identical beauties from Josh Tongue. At 123/5, the series hung by a thread. Karun now had to not only steady himself but guide young Dhruv Jurel, thrown into Pant’s void. In adversity, Karun found clarity. With calm feet and a clear mind, he embraced the grind. Test cricket had asked its toughest questions — and finally, Karun looked ready to answer.
County experience helping Nair
This was the England Karun Nair had braced himself for — the moving ball, the erratic bounce, the sternest test of technique and temperament. He tapped into the instincts sharpened over two County Championship seasons with Northamptonshire, drawing from a deep well of experience and the grit of a man who owns not one but two first-class triple centuries. When England’s bowlers asked tough questions, Karun searched through his mental archives for answers — and found them.
He wasn’t cautious to a fault. When he decided to attack, it was with full conviction, setting aside hesitation and embracing clarity. His footwork was purposeful, his timing crisp — meeting ball after ball with the meat of the bat. Driving on the up with a swinging ball demands both courage and calculation, and Karun balanced both masterfully. Survival wasn’t enough. He knew time at the crease needed to be matched with runs.