Karun Nair returned after being dropped from the fourth Test. As wickets fell at regular intervals, Nair held his end and scored his second fifty-plus total in red-ball internationals, following his memorable 303 in 2017. He will resume his innings at 52* and will undoubtedly aim to reach the long-awaited three-figure mark. Varun Aaron, a former cricketer, was thrilled by how Nair took advantage of his opportunity to aid the Indian squad.
As India had to bat first in the ongoing fifth Test against England, the top-order failed to meet expectations. Yashasvi Jaiswal left cheaply, and shortly after, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Sai Sudharsan returned. When it came to the middle order, Ravindra Jadeja and Dhruv Jurel failed to impress with the bat. Karun Nair made the sole significant effort for the Indian squad on the first day.
“Karun Nair delivered a fantastic knock today.
He was well aware of how important this match was for him, as it could be his final opportunity with the Indian Test team. But he took advantage, recording a calm 51 on a track that provided plenty. Yes, the bowling wasn’t always tight — Josh Tongue splashed it around a little — but Karun stood tall beside Mr. Reliable, Washington Sundar. “What really stood out to me was how purposefully Karun used soft hands to anything outside off-stump,” Aaron said on JioHotstar following Stumps on the first day.
“Except for one over against Tongue, where he flashed at a couple, he immediately reverted to his controlled approach. It was a very Karun Nair-type innings, similar to what we see in domestic cricket. He gets bowlers to come to him, and once they bowl under his eyeline, it’s meat and drink. He’s so balanced at the crease — rarely gets stuck LBW, and he timed his drives brilliantly without attempting to overhit,” he said.
Aaron praises Sundar’s dynamism.
Washington Sundar had to bat somewhat higher up the order in Manchester because to Rishabh Pant toe fracture. He hit a century to assist the visitors secure a draw and avert a series defeat. Sundar had to switch to his customary batting stance when he arrived in London to accommodate the expert batters. In a new role, the Tamil Nadu native forged a key combination for the seventh wicket with Nair as India finished Day 1 on 204-6.
“Washington may have felt short-changed in the past game, where others scored hundreds while he batted at No. 8. But today, he demonstrated his optimistic attitude – not with showy shots, but with intent. He kept stepping forward, remained on his front foot, and appeared in charge. This relationship with Karun has been really promising, and with the sun forecast to shine tomorrow, if they can get through the first half-hour, they might propel India to a strong position,” the cricketer-turned-commentator stated.
The second day is expected to be critical for India if they want to improve their chances of winning the game. The final recognised duo is currently batting at the crease, and their extended presence in the middle will eventually help India maximise their first innings total.
India
