Follow UsThe wait is finally over, as after nearly 9 years, Karun Nair has crossed the 50-run mark in Test cricket, only the second instance of him going past fifty in the longest format. Nair, who made his Test debut in 2016 against England, notched up a historic triple ton in his very third innings in Tests. However, four failures later, he was dropped, after which he spent eight years out of the Test side.
The 33-year-old made his Test comeback in the ongoing England series but was dropped after three games after failing to make starts count. But an injury to Rishabh Pant opened the door for Nair to return to the side, and he made the fullest use of his second chance in the series as the veteran batter notched up a fifty on a green top in extremely challenging conditions.
On the day, Nair walked in at 83/3, but that soon became 123/5 in no time. The score read 153/6 when Dhruv Jurel departed, and suddenly all the onus was on Nair to stitch a partnership with Washington Sundar and drag India towards the 200-run mark. The right-hander did just that as he weathered the storm in tough conditions and amassed a fifty filled with grit and bravado.
He brought up his fifty off the bowling of part-time spinner Jacob Bethell. As Nair neared his fifty, Dinesh Karthik joked on air, “Every time Nair has crossed fifty in Tests, he’s gone on to score a triple ton.”
12y 43d - Parthiv Patel (2004-16)
11y 167d - Fawad Alam (2009-20)
9y 289d - Robin Peterson (2003-13)
8y 227d - Karun Nair (2016-25)
8y 109d - Elton Chigumbura (2005-13)
*Since 2001
Nair finished the day unbeaten on 52 as India got to 204/6 at stumps.