Karun Nair returned to the Indian Test squad for the first time in seven years, for the recently finished five-match series against England. However, he was unable to reproduce the domestic performances that enabled him to return to the national squad.
Nair finished with 205 runs in eight innings, averaging 25.62. He batted at a variety of positions during the series but was unable to establish himself in any of them. The right-handed batter was disappointed that he couldn’t translate his starts into significant scoring.
“It was not like I was trying to prove anything. Sometimes you get starts in most of the games and then you find a way to get out. That was the case for me in England,” Nair was quoted as saying by India Today.
Having understood the need to build on starts, Nair said that he has already started working on that aspect of his game by discussing with coaches and close friends.
“I was batting well throughout the series and getting into the 30s and 40s, but I just wasn’t able to push on. That was frustrating for me more than anyone else. I’ve been reflecting on why that was happening, why I kept getting out after getting set. The one lesson I’ve taken is to make sure I convert the starts I get. I’ve spoken to a lot of people about it and taken their suggestions. I’ll be working on it soon, so that the next time I get a start, I can convert it,” he added.
I am not thinking too far forward: Karun Nair
The West Indies are set to arrive in India in October. This series will be followed by one against South Africa in November. There are also two India A series lined up against visiting Australia A and South Africa A sides, for which Nair could be considered by the selectors. However, the 33-year-old doesn’t want to think too far ahead and wants to improve his game every day.
“I am not thinking too far forward. I am taking it day by day, working on my game and on the learnings from the last series. As time goes on, we will see what happens. For me, it’s about improving every single day — both in terms of skills and fitness,” he added.
Nair also believes that the relatively young Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, will help India do well in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. India started their campaign with a morale-boosting 2-2 against England in the United Kingdom.
“Yes, we’ve made a strong start. We played well throughout the series, but it’s important to maintain this momentum, keep doing the things we did right against England, and improve in the areas where we need to. We as players are trying to improve day by day, and hopefully we can do well in this cycle,” Nair said.
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