I’ve Spoken to Karun on West Indies Series Selection: MSK Prasad

Karun Nair’s exclusion from the home Tests against West Indies has baffled quite a few fans.

File photo of Karun Nair.

(Photo: IANS)

Dropped without getting a game in England, Karun Nair's exclusion from the home Tests against West Indies has baffled quite a few but chairman of selectors MSK Prasad on Monday said the player has been given an explanation.

I personally spoke to Karun soon after the selection of the Test Team against the West Indies and also told the ways to make a comeback. The selection committee is very very clear with regard to the communication process.

MSK Prasad

India's second ever triple centurion in Tests, Nair was picked in the original squad for the England series but once the team was changed for the last two Tests, it was Hanuma Vihari, who played and impressed everyone with a gutsy half-century and handy off-breaks.

It is widely believed that the Indian team management were not happy with Karun's inclusion in the Test set-up.

Nair, in a recent interview, went on record stating that neither the team management nor the selectors have communicated with him.

However, Prasad said Karun was clearly intimated as to why a certain decision was taken.

Communication has always been the strong point of this committee. It’s really tough to inform any unpleasant news to any player. You need to have valid reasons to explain them about their exclusion though they may not agree with it.

MSK Prasad

Prasad explained that his colleague Devang Gandhi had spoken to the burly middle-order batsman in England when he was not being picked in the playing eleven.

Having said that we are very clear and candid in our communication process . My colleague Devang Gandhi spoke to Karun Nair at length in England to keep him motivated and wait for his opportunities.

MSK Prasad

The chairman of selectors himself has given the player a pep talk to keep his spirits up.

"Karun is very much in the scheme of things for Test cricket," said Prasad adding that he did motivate the player and told him to wait for his opportunity which is round the corner.