ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Rohit Sharma’s Exclusion Gives Karun Nair an Opportunity to Shine

India will be playing five Test matches against England with the first one starting from 1 August.

Published
Cricket
4 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

Two back-to-back centuries in tough English conditions weren’t enough to guarantee Rohit Sharma a place in the Test squad for the first three Tests against England, which was announced on Wednesday, 18 July.

Instead the selectors went for Karnataka batsman and current India A captain Karun Nair, who might end up being the much-needed batting reinforcement in the middle order to give captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane the support.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Test Cricket Not Rohit’s Cup of Tea?

India will be playing five Test matches against England with the first one starting from 1 August.
File photo of Rohit Sharma.
(Photo: Reuters)

After Rohit was dropped against Afghanistan in the one-off Test, nobody expected him to make it to the squad for the longer format. But his two back-to-back hundreds – an unbeaten 100 in the last T20 and 137 in the first ODI – might have brought him back in the reckoning.

Success in limited-over formats has earlier translated into Test call-ups, but in Rohit’s case the selectors, coach Ravi Shastri and even captain Virat Kohli can’t show much faith in him, especially after the South Africa tour earlier this year. Rohit got an opportunity ahead of India’s best overseas batsman Ajinkya Rahane, a decision for which the team management faced much flak, in the first two Tests. Rohit’s tally of 78 runs in four innings at an average of 19.50 made the matter worse. Eventually he was replaced by Rahane in the third Test.

Rohit might be the ‘Hitman’ in the limited-over formats but he kind of fizzles out in the five-day game, especially abroad. His problem with the moving ball, along with his shoddy defensive technique, makes his case weak as far as Test cricket is concerned.

0

Golden Opportunity for Karun Nair

India will be playing five Test matches against England with the first one starting from 1 August.
File picture of Karun Nair. 
(Photo: AP)

Karun Nair, who is currently leading the India A side in England, will fancy his chances. Nair has been in England for quite sometime now and has done well with scores of 20, 93, 42 and 55 in his four innings against West Indies A. Nair, who is yet to play an overseas Test match for India, will look to make best use of the opportunity and provide that stability in the middle order. Apart from a good start to his English summer, Nair had a decent outing in his previous Ranji season. He scored 612 runs in seven matches at an average of 68.00, which included three centuries and a fifty.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

How Safe is Rahane?

India will be playing five Test matches against England with the first one starting from 1 August.
Ajinkya Rahane plays a shot in 1st innings of the 2nd Test Match against West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica.
(Photo: AP)

Ajinkya Rahane might be India’s best overseas batsman in Tests but that hasn’t guaranteed him his place in the playing XI, as witnessed in South Africa. Kohli’s deputy in Test still needs to justify his place in the middle order.

With India heading to Australia after wrapping up things in England, Rahane will be one of the safest bets. With an average of 52.06 in 24 Tests and a tally of 1,874 runs, which include six hundreds and nine fifties, Shastri and Kohli will need to give Rahane some space. A continuous threat of getting dropped is neither going to benefit him or the side. Technique-wise the one the soundest Indian batsmen, Rahane has already arrived in England and is playing for India A against England Lions.

Rahane already has centuries in Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Engalnd and Sri Lanka. In the current squad only Virat Kohli has more overseas centuries than Rahane.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Not the End of the Road for Rohit

India will be playing five Test matches against England with the first one starting from 1 August.
Rohit Sharma celebrates after scoring a half century against New Zealand in Kolkata. 
(Photo: PTI)

However, everything is not over for Rohit Sharma. A lot depends on how the five-match Test series pans out. If Karun Nair wastes this golden opportunity, Rohit Sharma might make a comeback, especially when the next series is in Australia, where the ball does far less as compared to England. Till then, Rohit just needs to hone his skills as far spending time in the middle is concerned. He may know all the shots in the book but unfortunately the man with three double hundreds still needs to work on his forward defensive shot.

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from sports and cricket

Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More
×
×