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Karun Nair's Exclusion Likely; Players India Could Pick As His Replacement In Tests

Debashis Sarangi

Karun Nair could be replaced by Shreyas Iyer [Source: AFP, @KKR_Xtra/X]Karun Nair could be replaced by Shreyas Iyer [Source: AFP, @KKR_Xtra/X]

Experienced Indian batter Karun Nair had a disappointing end to the England tour as he departed for 17 runs in the second innings of the fifth Test at Kennington Oval. Nair's failure earned him massive backlash, with fans calling for his exclusion from India's Test setup. 

Karun Nair's Abysmal England Tour Could Lead To His Axing

Karun Nair made his Test comeback after performing admirably in the Ranji Trophy competition. However, he was nowhere close to his best on English soil, registering a string of low scores on the tour. 

Despite recording two scores of 57 and 40, Nair managed 205 runs at a modest average of 25.63. The England fast bowlers exploited his technical shortcomings on seam-friendly decks. 

Apart from his form, Karun's age definitely goes against his retention, with India eyeing long-term options to stabilise their middle order. 

In such a scenario, if India exclude Karun Nair from their Test plans, here are three players who could get into the team. 

Karun Nair's Probable Replacements In India's Test Setup

Shreyas Iyer

Criterion
Data
Innings24
Runs811
Average36.86
50s/100s5/1

(Shreyas Iyer's Test stats)

  • Shreyas Iyer had a fantastic series against Bangladesh; however, his underwhelming returns in the subsequent three series against Australia, South Africa and England led to his ouster from the Test team. 
  • The Mumbaikar looked sublime in last year's domestic tournaments, including the Ranji Trophy, where he amassed 480 runs across seven innings at a superb average of 68.57. 
  • He was also phenomenal in the subsequent Champions Trophy and IPL 2025, showcasing sublime form for India and Punjab Kings, respectively. So, if Karun Nair gets sidelined, Shreyas Iyer could be one of the frontrunners to replace him in India's Test squad. 

Sarfaraz Khan

Criterion
Data
Innings11
Runs371
Average37.1
50s/100s3/1

(Sarfaraz Khan's stats in Tests)

  • Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan grabbed the limelight during India's home series against New Zealand where he hammered a scintillating century in the Bengaluru Test. 
  • However, the batter's casual shot selection in the subsequent matches let the hosts down in the series, which they lost by an embarrassing margin of 0-3. 
  • Apart from his shot selection, Sarfaraz Khan's fitness issues blocked his progress in Test cricket. But the Mumbai cricketer has shed a lot of weight, proving his readiness for the longest format. 
  • That said, if Sarfaraz impresses the selectors by performing consistently in the upcoming domestic season, he might get a recall to India's Test squad at Nair's expense. 

Tilak Varma

  • Another batter who could be benefitted by Karun Nair's exclusion is Tilak Varma. The explosive southpaw has been a consistent performer in red-ball cricket at domestic level. 
  • Varma has struck 1562 First-Class runs across 34 innings at an average of 52.06. He has registered seven hundreds and five fifties, showcasing his ability to convert starts into significant scores. 
  • He's technically solid and has represented Hampshire in challenging English conditions in the County Championship. Thus, his name is worth considering if the Indian team management starts searching for Karun Nair's Test replacement.