Gautam Gambhir attacked by recently retired Indian player for partiality

Former Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned Gautam Gambhir’s decision to promote Karun Nair to the No. 3 spot during the second and third Tests against England. Ashwin criticized the move and added that Nair had never batted in that position before, which disrupted his mindset.

India dropped Karun Nair from the playing XI for the fourth Test in Manchester on July 23. The decision came after Nair scored just 131 runs in six innings at an average of 21.83. Sai Sudharsan, who replaced Nair in the XI, scored 61 runs as India reached 264 for 4 by stumps on Day 1 after being put in to bat.

Karun Nair Has Never Played at No. 3 - Ravichandran Ashwin Slams Gautam Gambhir

Ravichandran Ashwin said that Karun Nair had never played in the No. 3 position before and that the decision may have impacted his confidence. However, Ashwin praised Sai Sudharsan for stepping up in the crucial fourth Test, especially after being dropped earlier in the series.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

"Karun Nair has never played at No. 3. Now, by playing him at No. 3, you have put his mindset in a block," Ashwin said.

"But credit to Sai Sudharsan because it is not easy being a youngster after getting dropped and with India 1-2 behind in the series to come into the fourth Test and respond the way he did. I think he has to own that No. 3 for the near future to be able to give a bit of solidity for the team," he added.

Karun Nair returned to India's Test side after eight years and batted at No. 6 in the series opener at Headingley, where he scored 0 and 20. However, he was promoted to No. 3 for the next two Tests as Sai Sudharsan was left out of the playing XI.

We Have Seen Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid Bat at No. 3 - Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin compared Sai Sudharsan's approach at No. 3 to Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid. Ashwin, however, expressed disappointment that the youngster couldn't convert his half-century into a hundred, adding that he deserved a century for his efforts.

"We have seen Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid bat at No. 3. Sai Sudharsan showed that sort of solidity. He was able to leave the ball; of course, the wicket was a good one, but he negotiated a tough phase," Ashwin continued.

"He earned the right to score those runs. I am a bit upset because I am a huge well-wisher of him. He could have scored a hundred. That guy has a big appetite for runs. He just missed out on a well-deserved hundred."

Karun Nair Among Three Changes in India’s Playing XI for Manchester Test

India made three changes to their playing XI for the fourth Test against England. They picked Sai Sudharsan, Shardul Thakur, and debutant Anshul Kamboj. The team, led by Shubman Gill, came into the match trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, after losing the third Test by 22 runs at Lord’s.

On Day 1 in Manchester, Sudharsan was the standout performer for India with the bat. The left-handed batter was dismissed by Ben Stokes in the final session.

Sudharsan had survived on 20 when wicketkeeper Jamie Smith dropped a catch off Ben Stokes' bowling. He capitalized on the reprieve to score his maiden Test fifty. Ravindra Jadeja (19*) and Shardul Thakur (19*) remain unbeaten before stumps due to bad light.

Also read: BCCI issue Rishabh Pant's medical bulletin before Day 2 of Manchester Test