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“We expected more”: Agarkar explains Karun Nair’s Test Squad snub for WI series

Kaushik Kashyap

Karun Nair. [Source @cric_records45/x.com]Karun Nair. [Source @cric_records45/x.com]

BCCI announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming Test series against West Indies, starting this 2nd October in Ahmedabad. One of the key highlights of the selection was the exclusion of Karun Nair, who had recently made a comeback to the Indian Test team during the England tour after a long absence.

Karun’s return did not live up to expectations. During the England series, Nair struggled to find form, managing only 205 runs across 8 innings at an average of 25.62 with only one half century. His inability to convert starts into substantial contributions raised concerns among the selectors about his current Test readiness.

Despite his earlier exploits, including a memorable triple century in 2016, consistency has remained a challenge for Nair at the international level. His recent struggles made his comeback less impactful and ultimately led to his exclusion from India’s home series against the West Indies.

Selectors leave out Nair citing lack of runs

BCCI’s chairman of selector Ajit Agarkar, while addressing the media on Thursday, explained the decision to drop Nair from the Indian Test squad for the WI series. It was based on a combination of recent performance and the team’s strategic requirements for the upcoming red-ball challenges. .

"We expected more from Karun Nair in England. It cannot be about just one innings. Devudutt Padikkal offers more options to us. We want to give at least 15-20 chances to every player, but it is not possible every time," said Agarkar as quoted by Hindustan Times.

In a positive development for the squad, Devdutt Padikkal has been included, marking his return after injury. Padikkal has been in fine touch, scoring consistently, including a fantastic century for India A against Australia A recently, and is expected to provide a fresh look to the batting line-up.

The southpaw has already played two Test matches in his career, and his inclusion adds depth while creating exciting possibilities for India’s middle order as they gear up for an enthralling Test series against the West Indies.