Karun Nair

 

🏏 5th Test (India vs England at The Oval) – Day 1 Highlights

• Karun Nair made a powerful return to the Test XI, scoring an unbeaten 52, his first Test fifty since his triple century in December 2016—a drought of 3,148 days.Moneycontrol+15India Today+15OneCricket+15

• India ended Day 1 at 204/6 in 64 overs, with Karun and Washington Sundar sharing a vital 51-run stand for the 7th wicket to help steady the innings.Moneycontrol+6India Today+6India Today+6

• Conditions proved tough: overcast skies and a grassy green pitch made batting difficult, yet Nair’s composure stood out.India Today+1The Times of India+1

Karun Nair

💪 Sportsmanship Moment

• Karun Nair drew praise for an act of on-field integrity—he refused a fourth run when England’s Chris Woakes was injured trying to save a boundary, prioritizing player welfare over runs.OneCricket+15news.abplive.com+15The Times of India+15

Karun Nair

🎯 Career Narrative

• After a six-Test hiatus, Nair’s innings marked a resurgence in his Test career. Former cricketer Dinesh Karthik hailed it as a revival: “Karun Nair’s career is back.”Hindustan Times+1DNA India+1

• Though spectators and pundits controversially debated his brief stints, his 52* demonstrated renewed promise under pressure.India Today+1The Guardian+1

Karun Nair

📉 Looking Back: Exclusion from 4th Test

• Nair was dropped for the fourth Test at Old Trafford after moderate scores across the previous matches (total of 131 runs in six innings), prompting criticism of selection decisions and questioning of his future in the side.Cricket Winner+2cricket.com+2India Today+2