As reports surface suggesting Karun Nair may be dropped from India’s playing XI for the fourth Test against England, former Indian cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Aakash Chopra have come forward in support of the under-fire batter, urging team management to show consistency and fairness in their selection process.
According to reports from the Indian Express and Hindustan Times, Nair could be replaced by young left-hander Sai Sudharsan for the Manchester Test starting July 23 (Wednesday). The 32-year-old, who recently made a comeback to the Indian Test side after more than eight years, has posted modest scores of 0, 20, 31, 26, 40, and 14 in six innings across three Tests. Despite showing glimpses of form, Nair has failed to convert starts into substantial contributions, prompting the selectors to reconsider their options with India trailing 2-1 in the five-match series.
Sudharsan, who made his Test debut at Headingley with scores of 0 and 30, is reportedly in contention to return to the XI. Additionally, India are expected to make two more changes — Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur are likely to be included in place of the injured Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Harbhajan Singh: “Criteria Should Be the Same for Everyone”
Reacting to the reports, Harbhajan Singh emphasized the need for consistency in selection standards. The former spinner pointed out that Nair deserves the same backing that other players such as Shubman Gill and KL Rahul have received.
“Yes, Karun has not scored runs, but if you gave him a chance, then persist with him for a while. All players deserve a fair chance. Karun deserves it now, just as Shubman Gill and KL Rahul did in the past,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
He also highlighted that the decision to drop Sai Sudharsan after just one match might have been premature and that the same level of patience should now be extended to Nair.
“The criteria should be the same for everyone. If others got five or six chances, then what crime has Karun committed? I feel that giving just one opportunity to Sai Sudharsan wasn’t justified, but now that you’ve backed Karun, see it through and play him again,” he added.
Aakash Chopra: “Tempted to Give Nair One More Match”
Aakash Chopra, who also discussed the issue on his YouTube channel, echoed Harbhajan’s sentiments and argued that Nair has not looked completely out of place, even if he hasn’t delivered big scores.
“There will be a question at No. 3 as to whether Karun Nair should be given one more chance. Karun hasn’t looked completely out of sorts. However, he hasn’t scored enough runs for you to say his selection is certain,” Chopra explained.
“I am still tempted to play him one more match at No. 3 because he might not get a chance again,” he added, hinting at the precarious nature of Nair’s place in the squad.
As the Manchester Test approaches, the debate surrounding Karun Nair’s inclusion continues to divide opinion. With India needing a strong response to level the series, the selectors’ decision will not only impact the immediate contest but also signal the kind of player backing and long-term vision the team management intends to uphold.
