Follow UsKarun Nair returned to Test cricket after eight years, but he did not make his opportunities count. In the three Tests against England, the batter scored just 131 runs at 21.83, with a highest score of 40. As a result, India roped in Sai Sudharsan at No.3 in Manchester, and he responded by slamming a fifty in the first innings in Manchester.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir said Nair was not dropped, but the management felt a left-handed batter would be better to deal with England's attack.
“We don’t drop anyone. We pick the best XI. We felt a left-hander at No.3 against this attack would have been better. Anshul Kamboj was also picked because we thought he would do well in overcast conditions,” Gambhir said after India drew the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
However, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar refuted Gambhir's claim. “And to suggest that Karun Nair ‘wasn’t dropped’… come on. You guys see it as a drop; for them, it’s about ‘picking the right team’. If someone is dropped, he is dropped,” Manjrekar said on JioHotstar, as per Indianexpress.com.
Manjrekar even went on to say that Gambhir's strategy has not been on point in red-ball cricket.
“I feel India has done well despite some of his [Gambhir] tactical decisions. Let’s not forget: India lost 3-0 at home (to) New Zealand, lost comfortably to Australia [away]. The fight we’ve seen in this team? That’s down to the players. Because tactically, Gambhir hasn’t always made things easier – especially with some of his selections,” he said.
England lead the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-1. A loss or a draw in the fifth Test at The Oval will see India lose their third consecutive series under Gambhir.