‘Coach and captain…’- India’s batting coach breaks silence on dropping Karun Nair in ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

India’s number three woes continued even in the fourth Test of the five-match series against India at Old Trafford in Manchester. They have tried both Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair at this position, but have yet to get any result. In the first innings, the Tamil Nadu southpaw smashed a fine half-century but failed to open his account in the second innings.

After Shubman Gill and KL Rahul’s unbeaten partnership of 174 runs for the third wicket gave India hope of drawing this fixture, questions were raised on whether the management gave enough chances to Nair, who could come at the fag end of his career. India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, analyzed the decision.

See Also: [WATCH] Will Joe Root choose not to chase Sachin Tendulkar's most Test runs? Former India star predicts

‘Selection matters coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill can talk about, but it will not be right to talk about it. When Gill said we will back Karun, he would have meant backing him as a batter. He didn’t do badly, got starts.’ Kotak expressed at the press conference at the end of the fourth evening session’s play in Manchester.

India’s batting drops shocking remark on dropping Karun Nair in ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

Nair has smashed 131 runs in six innings of the series so far, out of which 111 runs have come for the right-handed batter at the number three position. It’s a crucial place in the batting order, and any side will want their number three to be stable like the former players of Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara. Post the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, it has become more important.

If Nair doesn’t get a chance in the final game of the series at the Kennington Oval in South London, and Sudharsan shows a better performance, then the former’s career for India could come to an end. Otherwise, he could get a chance during the two-match red-ball series at home against the West Indies.

Coming to the game, the tourists still have 130-odd runs to wipe out the deficit with eight wickets in hand. Both Gill and Rahul are inching towards their respective centuries, and it will be important for both of them to stay till the second new ball.