ENG vs IND 2025: Karun Nair is not a No. 3 player in my book – Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar-Karun Nair (Source: Getty Images)

Sanjay Manjrekar feels that Sai Sudharsan should bat at No. 3 in the upcoming third Test between India and England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, which starts on Thursday, July 10.

Sudharsan made his Test debut in the series opener at Headingley. However, the youngster didn’t have a memorable start to his career in the longest format, registering scores of 0 and 30, batting at No. 3. Karun Nair made a comeback in the Indian Test team after eight years in the same Test and batted at No. 6. He scored 0 and 20 in the two innings, respectively.

In the second Test at Edgbaston, Sudharsan was dropped and Nair was promoted to No. 3. The right-handed batter scored 31 in the first innings and 26 in the second. Manjrekar mentioned that he wouldn’t have left Sudharsan out of the playing XI after just one game.

“There were some very interesting selections made in the last game which I didn’t agree with. In the end a win can put a cover on those decisions. I thought Sai Sudharsan, after just one match, to be left out considering he is a young player that we are looking at the future. He played pretty okay in the second innings. I’d like to stick with him but this team management is not afraid to chop and change depending on the vibe,” he said on ESPN Cricinfo.

Manjrekar went on to mention that Nair is not a proper No. 3 batter. The cricketer-turned-commentator urged the Indian team management to bring Sudharsan back in the lineup and have him bat at No. 3 at the Home of Cricket.

“But I would like to see Sai Sudharsan at number three. Karun Nair is not a No. 3 player in my book. It is unfair to drop him after one Test if everyone is getting big hundreds. I think Sai deserves that opportunity as well,” he added.

Changed England attack will have more sharpness and potency: Manjrekar

England have brought Jofra Archer into their playing XI for the third Test in place of Josh Tongue. The 30-year-old is set to play a Test match after four years. Manjrekar advised the Indian team to be careful with their batting, mentioning that Shubman Gill’s scoring big in both innings of the Edgbaston Test overshadowed a lot of issues.

“I’d like to see India being pragmatic and realistic about how good the team is. They’ve got to still be careful about their batting. Shubman Gill got these big hundreds and made sure that India could win the Test match. I’m just imagining him getting 103 and 104, and it would have been tough to win the Test. He has taken care of a lot of those issues. India need to make sure that the batting is in place. Perhaps a changed England attack will have more sharpness and potency,” Sanjay Manjrekar reflected.

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