Ahead of the crucial fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, India captain Shubman Gill threw his weight behind senior batter Karun Nair, who has been struggling for form in the ongoing series. Gill, addressing the media on Monday, made it clear that Nair remains a vital cog in India’s batting unit and needs time to rediscover his rhythm.
“He didn’t bat at his number in the first game and we have had conversations with him, and he will turn it around,” Gill said, showing faith in the 33-year-old’s ability to deliver when it matters most.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Nair, who was drafted into the XI as an experienced middle-order option, has endured a lean run in his recent outings, amassing 131 runs in six innings so far. With veterans such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bidding goodbye to the longest format of cricket just before the England tour, the team management backed Nair to bring stability amid the English conditions. However, his lack of significant scores has put pressure on him heading into the must-win clash.The Old Trafford surface is expected to offer more pace and bounce, conditions where Nair’s compact technique and back-foot game could prove valuable. The team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, has been working closely with the middle-order batters to ensure strong starts and tight finishes in each session.As India prepare for the fourth Test, all eyes will be on Nair to see if he can repay the captain’s trust with a match-defining performance.
