New Delhi: Former India wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer has criticised Karun Nair’s inconsistent run at no. 3 for India in the ongoing Test series against England. The Indian team management has backed the senior batter at the crucial no.3 spot, preferring him over talented Sai Sudharsan. However, Nair has failed to repay the faith shown in him.
Nair earned his comeback in the Indian Test team after 8 years on the basis of his stellar performances in the domestic circuit. However, he has failed to replicate his run-scoring heroics for India in the England series. The 33-year-old has so far managed only 131 runs in three Tests against England at a dismal average of 21.83 without a single half-century.
Nair has managed to get off to good starts but has failed to convert them into big scores, which is an expectation from a no.3 in Tests. Engineer acknowledged Nair’s cameos at no.3, but insisted the batter needs to do much more to play at no.3 for India in Test cricket. Nair’s 40 in the first innings of the recently concluded 3rd Test at Lord’s is his highest score in the series so far.
“Karun Nair has been getting brilliant 20s and 30s. He’s (Nair) scored beautiful 30 runs, beautiful cover drives and all that. But a beautiful 30 is not expected from a No. 3. You’ve got to get a not-so-beautiful 100. You need runs on the board. You need (to score) bigger. The expectation should be much higher,” Engineer told Times of India.