Karun Nair's return to Test cricket after a long wait of seven years ended in disappointment as he was dismissed for a duck in the ongoing Test match between India and England. The match is being held at Headingley in Leeds. Nair's inclusion in the team marked the end of a prolonged absence from the highest level of the sport, with his last appearance dating back to March 2017.
The Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, chose to bat first after England won the toss and elected to bowl. Nair's comeback was highly anticipated, especially considering the absence of senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who had retired from this format last month. He was expected to fill the void in the middle order and solidify his place in the team.
Nair, who now represents Vidarbha in domestic cricket, had justified his call-up with a double century for India A in an unofficial Test against England Lions in Canterbury. This performance had raised hopes that he would be able to replicate his domestic form on the international stage.
In the lead-up to the Test, Nair had spoken about his determination to play for India again. "My first thought when I woke up was I want to play Test cricket, I want to play for India again. That's probably what kept me going and kept me hungry," he said. He also expressed his excitement about playing alongside KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna, with whom he had grown up playing cricket.
However, his comeback innings was cut short when he was dismissed for a duck by Ben Stokes. Stokes bowled a wide and floaty delivery outside off stump, which Nair attempted to drive aerially, only to be caught by Ollie Pope at short cover point. The dismissal was a setback for India, who were looking to build a strongtotal.
Nair's dismissal was part of a collapse that saw England take four wickets in quick succession before lunch on the second day of the Test. Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Shardul Thakur also fell in quick succession, putting India under pressure.
Despite the disappointing start to his comeback, Nair will be hoping to get another opportunity to prove himself in the remaining matches of the series. He has shown resilience throughout his career, and he will be determined to bounce back from this setback.
