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In a light-hearted moment that offered a glimpse into the camaraderie within the Indian team, veteran batter Karun Nair playfully declared himself the ‘best footballer’ in the current Indian squad.
Karun Nair’s candid ‘best footballer’ claim amidst India Test comeback challenges
This amusing claim came during the team’s interaction with Manchester United players ahead of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, where players from both sports engaged in friendly cricket and football exchanges. However, this witty remark from Nair arrives at a time of significant professional challenge, as his much-anticipated Test comeback has unfortunately concluded with his omission from the playing XI for the crucial Manchester Test.
With a notable gap in the schedule preceding the Old Trafford Test, the Indian team capitalized on the opportunity to engage in a unique interaction with stars from Manchester United, fostering goodwill and offering a refreshing break from the rigours of Test cricket. During this joint session, which featured both cricket and football, Karun delivered a memorable and humorous statement, asserting, “I don’t think there’s any better than me at the moment,” in reference to his footballing prowess within the Indian team. This jovial declaration, captured in a video, provided a moment of levity. Yet, behind this light-hearted claim lies a more serious narrative regarding Nair’s recent Test career.
Quickfire questions with at Carrington 👀🏏
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
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Poor form with the bat in Anderson-Tendulkar trophy and omission from Manchester Test
The 33-year-old had made a highly anticipated comeback to the Indian Test side after a significant seven-year hiatus, fueled by a record-breaking domestic season, including a double century in an India A tour game. However, his performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has been underwhelming; across three Tests and six innings at No. 3, he managed only 131 runs at an average of 21.83, with a highest score of just 40 in the first innings of the Lord’s Test. His scores of 14(33), 40(62), 26(46), 31(50), 20(54) and 0(4) highlight an inability to convert starts into substantial innings.
Consequently, for the fourth Test at Old Trafford, the team management made the tough decision to drop Karun from the playing eleven, bringing in young batter Sai Sudharsan in his place. Nair struggled to translate his domestic form into Test success, despite captain Shubman Gill‘s earlier backing. His exclusion, alongside the debut of seamer Anshul Kamboj and the return of Shardul Thakur for injured players, signals India’s intent to find a winning combination as they seek to level the series. Nair’s return to Karnataka for the upcoming domestic season, after a three-year stint with Vidarbha, confirms his focus on regaining form and potentially earning another chance in the future.
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