Ashwin Questions Karun Nair’s Unexplained Omission

Manchester: Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian spinner, voiced his surprise on Wednesday regarding the team management’s choice to elevate Karun Nair to the number three batting position, only to drop him for the fourth Test against England currently underway in Manchester.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated that Nair had no prior experience batting in that position at the international level. He speculated that this decision may have negatively impacted the batter’s mental preparation.

“Karun Nair has never batted at number three previously. Inserting him there potentially disrupted his mindset. I am a strong supporter of Karun, but this decision seemed quite unexpected,” Ashwin commented.

Nair’s return to international cricket after an eight-year absence saw him struggle in the initial three Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, accumulating a mere 131 runs across six innings with an average of 21.83.

He began the series batting at number six, recording scores of zero and 20 in the first Test. He was subsequently promoted to number three in later matches but failed to make a significant contribution. This resulted in his exclusion from the playing XI for the fourth Test, which commenced on Wednesday, July 23.

Taking Nair’s spot, Sai Sudharsan seized the opportunity, delivering a determined 61 off 151 balls on the first day of the Manchester Test.

His innings, which included seven boundaries, occurred under challenging circumstances as India sought to recover from a 1-2 series deficit.

Ashwin lauded Sudharsan, drawing parallels between his technique and temperament and those of Indian batting legends.

“We have seen Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara excel at number three. Sai Sudharsan displayed similar resilience, demonstrating solid defensive skills. He successfully navigated a difficult period early in his innings.

“He deserved the runs he managed to score. I’m somewhat disappointed he missed achieving a century, as he clearly possesses a strong desire for scoring runs,” Ashwin concluded.