Karun Nair Faces Baptism Of Fire As Cricket’s Generous Chance Turns Into An Ultimatum

Karun Nair disappointed India at Headingley [Source: AP]

“Dear cricket, give me one more chance.”

The aforementioned set of words became an extremely popular phrase among the masses when Karun Nair promised a turnaround amid talks of his miraculous comeback to the Indian Test side. Cricket listened to Nair’s plea, as the batter eventually earned a recall, storming his way back into India’s squad for the England tour. 

But what followed next was a major letdown from Nair’s end, with England turning his fairy-tale comeback dream into a nightmare. The veteran batter currently finds himself in troubled waters as India gear up to face the Englishmen at the iconic Edgbaston. 

Karun Nair’s Peak That Coincided With India’s Transition

863 runs across 16 innings; these Bradman-esque numbers in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy edition scripted Karun Nair’s inspirational Test return. However, what also worked in favour of the domestic talisman was India’s quest for an experienced batter to guide the youngsters in the post-Kohli, Rohit era in Tests. 

As his peak coincided with India’s transition phase, cricket’s generous second chance for Nair came in the form of a Test recall for the highly anticipated five-match series against England. 

The Tale Of An Unfulfilled Promise At Headingley

Nair managed only 20 runs across two innings [Source: AP]

The Indian think tank, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill, decided in favour of Nair’s instant entry in India’s playing XI for the Leeds encounter. 

It was a brave call from India’s perspective, as they sacrificed a bowling all-rounder in Nitish Reddy and an in-form batter in Dhruv Jurel to accommodate the domestic giant. 

But contrary to the expectations, Nair registered an unwanted duck when the stage was perfectly set for him to play a blinder and script a comeback for the ages. 

Although he survived 53 deliveries in the subsequent innings, Nair could contribute only 20 runs to India’s tally despite the visitors needing a counterpunch from their number six to keep the Englishmen under the pump. 

Thus, India bore the brunt of underestimating Jurel and Reddy’s prowess and trusting a batter with 26 as his second-highest Test score after a much-talked-about unbeaten 303. 

Nair Feels The Heat As Admirers Start Turning Into Critics

India have a few glaring loopholes with their fragile middle order being one of them. However, despite falling flat at Headingley, the visitors will likely give it another shot to groom Nair as one of their mainstays in Test cricket. 

But having said that, pressure looms large on the cricketer, who must grab the opportunity and become the decider of his own fate. 

Not long ago, Nair's urge for a comeback synchronised with the national sentiment, as fans demanded the BCCI to acknowledge his valiant efforts. But in a cricket-crazy nation like India, the fanatics will no longer be sympathetic to the right-hander and start nitpicking his failures if the outcome doesn't go India's way at Edgbaston. 

If Not Now, Then When? 

How many forgotten Indian cricketers receive a Test recall at 34? The answer is closest to none. So, Karun Nair must feel fortunate for the second chance that cricket has given him at a stage that is considered twilight for most domestic performers. 

Make no mistake, this should encourage Nair rather than pressurising him for impactful returns at Edgbaston. Apart from his own career, what the batter has at stake is the hope of thousands aiming to knock down the Test selection door solely based on domestic performances. 

Thus, it’s high time for Karun Nair to live up to the hype and become a trendsetter. His failure will eventually consolidate India’s unwavering trust in IPL-bound players, which already has become an unspoken criterion for Test selection in the modern era. 

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