ENG vs IND 2025: Give Karun Nair one more chance, says Anil Kumble

Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble felt Karun Nair deserved to be retained in the Indian XI for their fourth Test of the five-match series against England. Karun has scored 131 runs across six innings in the ongoing series in the first three matches.

Kumble felt Karun's 40-run knock in India's first innings at Lord's warranted his spot in the squad for the fourth game at Old Trafford. The legendary cricketer has advised the Indian team to go into the upcoming game without making a lot of changes in the playing combination, and as a result, Karun Nair should be given another go with the bat.

“I don't want to make too many changes because I think India have played a fantastic game. Yes, they lost by 22 runs. Unless injuries, we don't know about Rishabh Pant. He (Nair) certainly keeps his place. He did enough in the first innings. In the second innings, it was probably a brain fade, but he was batting well. That partnership was crucial,” shared Kumble while speaking on Star Sports' Follow The Blues.

The former head coach felt the Jodhpur-born's 62-ball stay in his team's first innings proved to be advantageous for the skipper from staying away from the new ball on the penultimate day of the all-important encounter at the Lord's.

“If he had gotten out early, then maybe Shubman Gill would have been exposed slightly earlier with the new ball. We know that the first 20 or 25 overs were crucial. I think he will still keep his place. He was unfortunate that he got out. It was a brilliant catch by Joe Root. Probably give him one more opportunity,” the legendary spinner further observed.

Has certainly stepped up with his batting: Kumble

Kumble felt Ravindra Jadeja's heroics with the bat in the third Test was something which would provide a whole lot of self-belief in him as well as within the management. The cricketer-turned-expert also commented on the star all-rounder's unique ability to be able to bat and operate alongside different batting partners in Test cricket.

“The first Test, when India lost, the contribution from the lower-order was nothing in the two innings, and since then, Ravindra Jadeja has certainly stepped up with his batting. He certainly will feel confident, and the team management will also feel so much more confident that the lower-order is now contributing,” he noted.

“He has been the sole sort of leader in that middle-order to hold the innings, not just with a recognized batter, and putting together a partnership, but also ensuring that the lower-order starts contributing along with him, and those partnerships that he has had, even in the first innings with Nitish Kumar Reddy, second innings with him, and of course, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj,” remarked Kumble.

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India will square off against England in the fourth Test of the five-match series in Manchester. Shubman Gill & Co. would be eyeing a series level with a win at the historic venue of the Old Trafford, before they go into the fifth and final game of the tour at The Oval, London.