Karun Nair had a lukewarm outing in the recently concluded Test series against England. Though the batter scored only one half century and rest remained the below 50-run mark, the fifty came in a crucial juncture of the fifth Test and was applauded by many fans and pundits alike.

One picture from his outing in England going viral as people are drawing parallels between him and India ODI captain Rohit Sharma. Karun unleashed a straight drive which mirrored the same as Rohit’s from one of his innings. Speaking of the same, the Karnataka batter refrained from taking the likening as compliment, rather he avoided the resemblance as saying that Rohit is much bigger player than him and he is just starting his career.

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"Everyone these days watches everything that goes around on social media, but you know that Rohit Sharma is a legend of the game & I don't really know what to say, it's nice to see but I would like to not compare myself with someone who is a legend of the game. It will be unfair to be compared to the legend, whereas I am just starting my career,” Karun said to Sports Yaari.

I’m going to work on it very soon: Karun Nair

Karun reflected on his maiden England tour by saying that he got to good starts but could not convert those starts into big scores. His highest score of 57 came in the final Test of the series and his other scores read, 40, 31, 26 and 21. He further added that though the outing was not what he imagined it to be, he has learnt the lesson.

I was batting really well throughout the series and I was getting starts in most games. But I was just not able to convert it, which was frustrating for me more than anyone else. The one lesson I’ve reflected upon is making sure that I convert the start that I get. I’ve spoken to a lot of people about it, and I’m going to work on it very soon,” he added.

Karun Nair finally returned to international cricket after more than eight years during the recently concluded five-match Test series in England (Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025), but it wasn't a dream run for him despite some of his impressive pictures. 

In 2016, Karun Nair scored a Test triple-century (303*), which was his only 30+ score in a Test innings, only 40+ score in international cricket before his return to international cricket in the recently concluded England tour. He got the deserved chances in the recently concluded series after his hard work in recent years, where he impressed with his consistent performances with the bat. 

Nair returned to Test cricket during the first Test of the England tour at Leeds, where he scored a duck in the first innings and scored 20 runs during India's second innings. In the next Test at Edgbaston, Nair scored 31 and 26 runs. In the Lord's Test, he scored 40 and 14. After he was dropped from the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, he returned to the Test series finale at The Oval, where he scored 57 and 17. He mostly impressed with his confident starts, but he hardly managed to capitalise on his starts. 

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It was not like I was trying to prove anything: Karun Nair

In a recent interview, Nair pointed out his failures despite getting starts in the England tour. He told PTI, “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 feels very frustrated to fail to make a big count on his good starts in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, where the right-handed batter scored 205 runs in eight innings with an average of 25.62.

Nair added, “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." 

By taking important suggestions, Nair is working hard to make improvements and not make the same mistakes in the upcoming matches.

Nair claimed, "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."

I am not thinking too far forward: Karun Nair

In October, India will host a Test series against the West Indies. Then, South Africa will travel to India for the Test and white-ball series in November. There are also two India A series against Australia A and South Africa A. Talking about his future goal, Nair isn't thinking much ahead; rather than he is much busier focusing on the present. 

Nair said, “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.”

Every captain has their own way to manage the team. Man management is a major task for any leader of a team. Shubman Gill got his Test captaincy just before the crucial Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both retired from the format.

At the age of only 25, how Gill could manage the team and his individual performance were two major concerns of cricket fraternities. Gill did both with precision. With a newly formed team, India leveled the 5-match series 2-2 in a heroic manner. A few days after the conclusion of the Test series against England, Karun Nair shared an on-field incident that reflects the persona of Shubman Gill as a captain. During a conversation, Nair said that he mostly filed in the first slip position. When Gill asked him to stand somewhere else, Nair felt nervous. He informed Gill, and he took immediate action. Shubman himself took over the third slip duty on his own and left the first slip position to Nair.

"I have always fielded in the first slip position—I had requested Shubman if I could stand there in England. He left the position to me and moved to the third slip himself," Karun Nair said during a conversation. 

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Nair played a pivotal role in England 

The retirements of Sharma and Kohli opened the door for Nair to make a long-awaited comeback in the Test setup. The England tour for Nair was filled with ups and downs. He played 4 out of 5 matches during the series and was dropped once for not performing up to expectations. 

After missing the Old Trafford Test, the batter bounced back strongly with a fifty-plus score at The Oval, which was the fifth and the series decider game. When India was struggling in the first innings of the match, Nair made a well-fought 57-run innings. Before that, at The Lord's cricket ground, his first 40-run innings came at a crucial time.

India had an impressive run in the recently concluded five-match Test series against England, finishing with a 2-2 draw under Shubman Gill’s leadership, despite missing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While the batting unit performed consistently across the series, former India captain Sourav Ganguly pointed out that the No.3 position appeared slightly vulnerable. He expressed support for young batter Abhimanyu Easwaran to fill that role, following ongoing discussions about his prolonged absence from the playing XI despite being part of the squad in previous tours.

Easwaran has travelled with the Indian team to Australia and England but is yet to make his Test debut. Throughout the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India opted for Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair in the No.3 slot, leaving Easwaran on the bench. Ganguly remains confident that the Bengal cricketer will eventually find a place in the playing XI. With an impressive domestic record of 103 Ranji Trophy matches, Easwaran has scored 7841 runs at an average of 48.7, including 27 centuries, proving his readiness for the big stage.

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“He has age on his side. I still believe he will get his chance. I feel batters like Yashasvi, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja have all got runs. It’s only the No.3 slot that looked a bit fragile. Maybe Easwaran will be tried there,” Ganguly told to The Times of India.

Gautam Gambhir assured my son: Easwaran’s father

Sai Sudharsan, who was preferred over Abhimanyu Easwaran, scored just 140 runs in six innings at No.3, averaging 23.33 and recording two ducks. Meanwhile, Karun Nair, returning to Test cricket after eight years, managed 205 runs from eight innings at an average of 25.62. Easwaran’s father recently disclosed that India head coach Gautam Gambhir has assured his son a fair opportunity when his turn arrives. In the second unofficial Test against the England Lions, Easwaran batted at No.3, scoring 11 and 80, but is still waiting for his maiden India cap.

Easwaran will captain the East Zone in the 2025 Duleep Trophy, a tournament that could further strengthen his claim for a national call-up. India’s upcoming home Test season features series against the West Indies and South Africa, where the No.3 position may again come under scrutiny. With Sudharsan and Nair’s recent struggles, it remains to be seen if the selectors finally give Easwaran his long-awaited opportunity to prove himself at the highest level.

Karun Nair had an incredible time in the red-ball format during the Ranji Trophy as he changed his domestic team from Karnataka to Vidarbha. On the back of his fabulous season, he broke into the red-ball squad of the Indian team after nine years for the five-match Test series during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. 

Standing for the national anthem during the opening day of the series at Leeds in Headingley, Nair felt goosebumps run down his arms. That was more special to the right-handed batter even than wearing the India cap for the very first time. He revealed that feeling during a recent interaction on ESPNcricinfo.

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“To get that opportunity was one of the best days of my life. Just the feeling of, 'yeah, finally I've made it again'. That was the moment for me.” Said Nair, before claiming “Maybe in a week, or whenever the Centre of Excellence gives me the go-ahead” as he looks to be fit for the upcoming Maharaj T20 Trophy 2025 from the injury he picked up at Kennington Oval during the fifth and final red-ball encounter.

Karun Nair discloses his best moment from England vs India 2025 Test series

The 33-year-old now has smashed 579 runs in 15 Test innings at an average of 41.35, scoring one half-century and one century at the best score of 303*. However, he didn’t have a great time in the UK with just one fifty on his name in eight innings, which came during the first innings of the final game at the Oval. But he speaks on Shubman Gill’s young captaincy and the right spirit of the 25-day action.

“We had a good chat, both teams were respectful of the fact that it was a great series. Brendon McCullum mentioned it was the greatest Test series to be played in recent memory. As players, we didn't feel the magnitude of it during the matches, but looking back at how the moments panned out, as a group, we feel we achieved something special.” The veteran shed light.

“The way Shubman held everyone together and the encouragement he gave was great to see. He was crystal clear with his communication from the beginning. To achieve what he did as a batter, while also leading the team, as a leader, he exemplified the spirit of Gauti bhai.” Nair concluded during the discussion.

India clinched a dramatic win by just six runs in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval on Monday, August 4. The match went down to the wire with England needing only seven runs and one wicket in hand.

Gus Atkinson went for an aggressive shot on a full delivery from Mohammed Siraj but missed, resulting in his off stump being rattled and handing India a dramatic victory. With this, the five-match Test series ended in a 2-2 draw.

England had claimed victories at Headingley and Lord’s, while India bounced back strongly to win at Edgbaston and The Oval. The fourth Test, held at Old Trafford in Manchester, ended in a stalemate, setting up a tense and unforgettable series finale.

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The Warriors for India in This Series:

India witnessed standout performances from multiple players throughout the series, with captain Shubman Gill setting the tone. He led the batting charts for India, amassing 754 runs and earning the Player of the Series title for his consistent brilliance.

Mohammed Siraj led the bowling charts with 23 wickets and earned the Player of the Match award for his impactful performance in the final Test at The Oval.

KL Rahul (532 runs) and Ravindra Jadeja (516 runs) were also among the top five scorers, playing crucial roles with the bat. Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna both claimed 14 wickets each, making vital contributions with the ball across key moments in the series.

Players Who Can be Dropped in the Upcoming Test Series:

While several players delivered strong performances, a few couldn’t make much of an impact during the series. As India prepares for their upcoming home Test series against the West Indies in October, following the Asia Cup in September, some names might be left out. Here's a look at three players who could be dropped for the West Indies Tests.

• Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur, who was recalled for the England Test series, may find himself out of contention for the upcoming West Indies tour. Featuring in just two matches — at Leeds and Old Trafford — Thakur managed only two wickets across three innings, recording figures of 0-38, 2-51, and 0-55, which didn’t quite meet expectations.

Although he contributed a handy 45 runs with the bat, it might not be enough to secure his place. He may need to prove his form and fitness once again through consistent performances in domestic cricket, particularly the Ranji Trophy, to earn another shot at the national Test squad.

• Karun Nair

Karun Nair is expected to be left out of the upcoming home series against the West Indies. With promising middle-order players like Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan waiting to take advantage of home conditions, Nair may have to return to the Ranji Trophy and perform well to get another chance in the national team.

His future in the Indian Test team looks uncertain unless the selectors opt to give him more chances. In the recent England series, he managed 205 runs across eight innings, with his top score being 57 in the final Test.

Although Nair still holds a solid Test average of 41.35, it is mainly due to his unbeaten 303 against England in his debut series. With only one century and one fifty in 15 innings, his recent performances haven't been convincing. Adding to his woes, reports suggest he may have suffered a broken index finger, which could keep him out temporarily.

• Anshul Kamboj

Anshul Kamboj made his Test debut during the fourth match of the India-England series, stepping in for Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was sidelined due to a knee injury. Initially, Arshdeep Singh was the preferred replacement, but he suffered an injury while training, giving Anshul his maiden opportunity.

However, Anshul's debut didn’t make a strong impact. He was dismissed for a duck and managed just one wicket while conceding 89 runs. With India set to play their next Test series at home, conditions may favour other all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who bring more experience. Anshul will need to sharpen his skills to regain a spot in the squad or the playing XI.

England got his man early on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match against India at The Oval. Josh Tounge took Karun Nair's wicket just a few minutes after the day started. A little bit of movement from the ball did the work for the home team. 

Day 1 of the match was start-stop because of continuous rain. The pitch of The Oval was still pretty active during the initial overs of Day 2. The men in the blue team are already without some of their main men and heavily dependent on Nair; after the stumps of Day 1, he was the last full-time batsman India had left in the lineup.

The middle-order batter fought brilliantly under tough conditions and completed his half century before the stumps of Day 1. India is 6 down, leaving Karun and Washington Sundar as the last hope in the middle. In the early stage of Day 2, every ball was important for both of the teams. India needed runs, and England was in search of wickets.

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Again a batting collapse 

Pacer Josh Tounge did not take too long to strike. His good-length delivery was angled towards the right-handed Karun Nair. Nair was on his front foot, shields on, but he misjudged the line of the ball and had to pay. The red ball hits the pad, leg before the wicket.

Josh Tongue removes Karun Nair early on Day Two! 💪 pic.twitter.com/LRmUJzp3ea

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 1, 2025

Nair went back to the pavilion after 57 against 109 deliveries. When he departed, India was 218 for 7. They took the rest of the wicket in a quick motion. Gus Atkinson took the remaining 3 wickets. India is 10 wickets down with 224 on the board. In exchange for the last 4 wickets, India added only 6 runs to their total. 

Many questioned Karun Nair’s position in the Indian side when Shubman Gill announced the playing eleven and put the Karnataka batter at number five. He was dropped after the first three games for India, where he managed 131 runs in six innings, including 111 runs in four innings at number three. 

Nair walked out at a critical position when the tourists lost captain Shubman Gill via a terrible accidental run-out where he slipped in the middle of the surface before the bowler broke the stumps. Nair remained unbeaten on 51 runs at the end of the day, as former left-arm spinner, Pragyan Ojha, highlights Karun Nair using the opportunity.

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‘When Karun Nair came out to bat, I was telling that how to keep an eye on this opportunity. There are two ways of looking at it. One is of half-glass full and the half-glass empty. It depends on how you see it, and your body reacts according to it. Your thought process goes around that. I thought he prepared well and didn’t let the added pressure get to him.’ Ojha expressed on Star Sports.

Watch: Pragyan Ojha highlights Karun Nair’s fifty during ENG vs IND 5th Test at Kennington Oval

He spent time, and the way he celebrated the half-century will give him confidence in reaching the three-figure mark. Washington Sundar is there, and both have the ability. The job is only half done. If you want to make it a nightmare for England, you have to bat for one or two sessions.’ The former Bengal spinner added.

Solid start, cool head. 🙌#PragyanOjha applauds #KarunNair's ability to spend time at the crease and build a foundation under pressure! 💯

Will he carry this momentum into Day 2 and push #TeamIndia's score forward? 👀#ENGvIND 👉 5th TEST, DAY 2 | FRI, 1st AUG, 2:30 PM |… pic.twitter.com/N3a6VvPv4y

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 1, 2025

Nair, who was dropped from the longest format after his 300-run knock in 2016 against England in Chennai, made his first fifty from the landmark. He will aim for a century on the second day.

‘Now you have got the foundation. Once you work on it, that will give you pleasure. You don’t know if one of their bowlers will come back in the form of Chris Woakes. Josh Tongue looked clueless. So, England will start various discussions on their plans. Test matches are being played like that; more than physicality, it’s about mentality.’ Ojha explained at the end of the opening day on Star Sports.

A deserving half-century for Karun Nair. In a tough situation, when Team India (ENG vs IND 5th Test) was struggling to hold wickets, Nair played a much-needed innings to keep the hope alive to level the series. 

He prayed to God for one last chance to perform with Team India, and he got the chance. Nair dropped from the last test's line-up because of low runs, and again, the management decided to include the batter when the team was in a critical situation. A do-or-die situation for Team India, a do-or-die situation for Karun Nair. Nair delivered, remaining not out after the conclusion of Day 1 of the ongoing England vs. India 5th Test, and will start a fresh day with Washington Sundar.

When Karun came to bat at The Oval, India had already lost 3 major batters—Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and captain Subhman Gill. Nair and Sai Sudharsan started to carry the innings. Sudharshan was doing well; multiple flawless shots came out from his bat. But suddenly, Josh Tounge caused the damage. Sai Sudharsan departed for a well-made 38.

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When patience combined with skill 

His dismissal was a major disappointment for Team India, like the run-out of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul's inside edge, which guided the ball on the off stump. Nair's story is so far different. Unlike the number 3 position, for this match, he got too mad at number 4, where he actually belongs, in the middle order.

Without making any hurry, he waited for his moment. Through his unmatchable patience and sublime strokes, the batter got his half century and helped India to edge past the 200-run landmark in the first innings. 

ENG vs IND 5th Test Day 1 Scoreboard: 

India: 204/6 (64 Overs)

Batting has worked out for India in this five-match series in England, but even after eight innings at Old Trafford in Manchester, they have yet to find out their number three position in the batting order. Karun Nair batted at this position four times and managed 110 runs at an average of 27.50, while Sai Sudharsan got just 61 runs in the first innings of Manchester. 

In the last three series, they used multiple options at number three, including Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Paddikal, Nair, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and many others. None of them was able to provide them the contribution they perhaps expected, like they got from Cheteshwar Pujara or Rahul Dravid in the past.

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‘For Sudharsan, it was all mental fatigue and tiredness. That’s why number three is such a tough place. Around the world, there are not many number three players who have produced consistent performances on the back day. You need to deal with a certain scenario or situation. It’s a difficult place to bat.’ Stuart Broad, the former pacer, shed light during a post-show on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Stuart Broad and Ricky Ponting analyze India’s number 3 in ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

Broad pointed out how the number three position around the world hasn’t contributed much. He reckoned that Sudharsan’s dismissal in the second innings of Manchester came only because of the mental fatigue. Ricky Ponting added a little more than that.

"Sudharsan is going to be good enough" 💪

Ricky Ponting & Stuart Broad discuss the number three batting position for India 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/haiLbiOHRO

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 27, 2025

‘It just creates internal pressure a youngster doesn’t need, looking over the shoulder. That was where it surprised me. They made a call in the first Test on Sudharsan and then went back to him. I wasn’t that young when I moved up to three. But it requires a bit of reassurance from the captain and coaches about how he goes. Ben Stokes has done it to Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley and kept backing them to get the match-winning knocks.’ Ponting addressed.

India finished the fourth day with 130 runs behind and eight wickets in hand. Both Shubman Gill and KL Rahul remained unbeaten at the close and will need to stay longer in the crease for India to end the game in a draw.