ENG vs IND 2025: ‘He has never batted at No. 3’ – R Ashwin slams team management for Karun Nair’s omission from playing XI for Manchester Test

Karun Nair and Ravi Ashwin (Source: Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images and Ashish Vaishnav/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Karun Nair was finally shown the door by the Indian team management after he failed to live up to his potential in the first three Tests against England in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The right-handed batter made a comeback to international cricket after more than eight years. However, his comeback wasn’t really memorable as the 33-year-old could only aggregate 131 runs from six innings at an average of 21.83.

Nair batted at No. 6 in the first Test and registered scores of 0 and 20. In the last couple of games, he moved up to No. 3, but his fortunes didn’t change with the change in batting position. He was subsequently dropped from the playing XI for the third Test in Manchester, which started on Wednesday, July 23.

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that Nair has never played at No. 3 and pushing him up to the important role might not have done wonders to his mindset. However, he lauded youngster Sai Sudharsan, who scored a resolute half-century on Day 1 after coming into the side in place of Nair.

“Karun Nair has never played at No. 3. Now, by playing him at No. 3, you have put his mindset in a block. But credit to Sai Sudharsan because it is not easy being a youngster after getting dropped and with India 1-2 behind in the series to come into the fourth Test and respond the way he did. I think he has to own that No. 3 for the near future to be able to give a bit of solidity for the team,” Ashwin said in the latest video on his YouTube channel.

Sai Sudharsan missed out on a well-deserved hundred: Ashwin

Sudharsan scored 61 runs off 151 balls, hitting seven boundaries. Ashwin compared the Tamil Nadu batter’s solidity to the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid.

“We have seen Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid bat at No. 3. Sai Sudharsan showed that sort of solidity. He was able to leave the ball; of course, the wicket was a good one, but he negotiated a tough phase. He earned the right to score those runs. I am a bit upset because I am a huge well-wisher of him. He could have scored a hundred. That guy has a big appetite for runs. He just missed out on a well-deserved hundred,” Ashwin stated.

India finished Day 1 at 264/4 after being invited to bat first by England. The visitors are trailing the five-match Test series 1-2.

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