Karun Nair struggled to make a significant impact in the first Test against England at Leeds. Former Indian cricketer Varun Aaron has issued a strong statement about Karun Nair ahead of the second Test against England. Aaron believes the upcoming match at Edgbaston could be Nair’s last chance to prove himself, and the right-hander will face immense pressure to deliver.
Following an intense first Test between England and India, attention now shifts to the second match of the series, scheduled to take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting July 2. This fixture holds crucial importance for both teams in the context of the series.
India, in particular, will be eager to secure a win after their five-wicket defeat in the opening Test at Headingley, Leeds. Several concerns arose during that match, notably the collapse of India’s lower order in both innings, which proved costly.
A key factor in those collapses was Karun Nair. The Vidarbha batsman, making his comeback after eight years, failed to make an impact, scoring a duck in the first innings and only 20 runs in the second.
Batting at number six, expectations were high for Nair to play a pivotal role. He had impressed recently with a double century in the unofficial India A vs. England Lions series, earning widespread support to perform well at the Test level. However, his first outing didn’t live up to the hype. Still, Nair will be eager to bounce back strongly in the second Test.
Varun Aaron believes Karun Nair will definitely be under pressure, having regained his spot after eight years.
He also feels that the Edgbaston Test could be a crucial, make-or-break opportunity for the batsman. Aaron highlighted that Karun has previously scored runs at this venue during county cricket, which should boost his confidence. Speaking on Star Sports, he said:
“Obviously, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul will be in the team because they scored centuries in the first Test. But in my view, Karun Nair will be a key batsman at Edgbaston since he has performed well there in county matches.”
“He’ll carry that confidence into Edgbaston. This is a very important game for Karun, especially as he didn’t score runs in the first Test. He will certainly feel the pressure, having returned after eight years. Perhaps this could be his final chance,” Aaron concluded.