[WATCH] ENG vs IND 2025: Karun Nair departs for duck on Test return as Ollie Pope grabs stunner

[WATCH] ENG vs IND 2025: Karun Nair departs for duck on Test return as Ollie Pope grabs stunner. (Source: X)

Karun Nair was dismissed for a four-ball duck on his return to international cricket after a bit more than eight years (3007 days) during Day 2 of the first Test between England and India at Headingley. He had to head back to the pavilion in what was an anti-climatic conclusion to an occasion which promised so much more.

Karun departed on the final delivery of the 105th over of the visitors’ innings as he reached out a Ben Stokes delivery which bowled full outside the off stump,. However, to the batter’s misfortune, the ball was caught splendidly by Ollie Pope at cover as he leaped to his left and to held onto the ball in a manner goalkeepers do in football.

Karun was Stokes’ third wicket and the fifth batter to fall for India. A couple of wickets fell subsequent to Karun’s dismissal; Rishabh Pant (134 off 178) and Shardul Thakur (one off eight) as lunch was called after Stokes scalped his fourth wicket in the form of the latter. India managed to put on 95 runs in the first session.

India resumed the second day on 359/3. There were a lot of expectations from Shubman Gill and Pant at the start of the day. While Pant got to his seventh ton during the morning session, Gill was the first wicket to fall, missing his 150 by a narrow margin. The skipper departed for 147 off 227 deliveries.