The third Test of the five-match series between India and England is shaping up to be a fiery affair. From heated comments to cheeky jabs and passionate celebrations, the series has kept fans on edge. While Indian batters will take to the crease on Monday, they need 135 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.However, despite their best efforts, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and then Ben Stokes ensured that India lost four wickets, including crucial players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Karun Nair.Of all the wickets that India lost after coming in to bat on Day 4, the most regrettable remains that of Karun Nair. The No. 3 batter’s ‘brain fade’ moment was highlighted on social media as fans lamented the 33-year-old’s ‘bad luck.’After initially appearing confident at the crease, a seemingly ‘ordinary’ delivery from Brydon Carse ended his innings at just 14 runs from 33 balls. After the umpire promptly raised his finger for LBW, the batter didn’t even consider a review.Reacting to his dismissal, former India spinner and veteran Ravichandran Ashwin voiced his concerns. Speaking to Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel “Ash ki Baat,” the 38-year-old discussed how Nair should not have lost his wicket so cheaply.“I really was hoping for Karun (Nair) to come good. He has batted well in pockets but hasn’t really put that spot to bed. Today as well, he left a rather straight delivery. It is about pressure. These mistakes will only come because of pressure.”Several others were disappointed with Nair’s showing, including the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Michael Atherton. Reacting to his wicket, Karthik said: “I don’t know what he was thinking. Karun Nair expected the ball to probably swing away, but it didn’t—it just held its line, kept coming straight. Pretty ordinary leave. Brydon Carse loving it, it’s an important wicket.”
Adding to Karthik’s observations, England legend Michael Atherton said: “It’s a very strange leave from Karun Nair. Particularly at the end he’s batting—the pavilion end—so you know naturally the ball is going to run back in at you, down the slope. So it’s an odd leave.”“To make matters worse, he’ll have a big bruise there in the morning because it hit him on the inside of the pad, so he had to hobble off,” Atherton observed on air.After an exciting return to the Indian Test side following an eight-year hiatus, the batter has failed to make the No. 3 spot his own, often struggling to get the runs flowing—as reflected in his numbers so far this series.
