Gautam Gambhir kicked aside as England veteran takes credit for Karun Nair's renaissance

Legendary England batter Kevin Pietersen heaped praise on Karun Nair for his composed and gritty knock that kept India alive after a shaky start on Day 1 of the ongoing fifth and final Test against England at The Oval.

With India reeling at 153 for 6, Karun Nair walked in under the immense pressure and turned the tide with calm, class, and resilience, and shifted the momentum with a solid unbeaten 52 off 98 deliveries, and that's where Kevin Pietersen's behind-the-scenes influence got to be seen.

The England bowlers, especially Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue, troubled India early on at The Oval. However, Tongue picked up two wickets with absolute gems, but later he and Overton struggled to maintain consistency, allowing India to steal crucial runs on Day 1.

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Kevin Pietersen’s mentorship shines as Karun Nair anchors India at The Oval

Well, Karun Nair joined hands with Washington Sundar, who once again impressed with his compact technique, and they stitched a valuable 51-run stand that took India to a fighting 204 for 6 by stumps on Day 1 of the ongoing fifth and final Test against England at The Oval.

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Now, India would love to make the most of England’s biggest setback in the final Test, as their premier pacer Chris Woakes left the field late in the day with a possible dislocated shoulder, leaving the hosts potentially a bowler short heading into Day 2.

Interestingly, Nair recently worked closely with former England skipper Kevin Pietersen during their IPL 2025 stint with Delhi Capitals. Pietersen had joined the DC as the mentor last season, and now it seems that experience is paying off.

Kevin Pietersen hopes Karun Nair gets his hundred on Day 2

The former captain helped Nair in technical preparation and mental discipline during the IPL 2025, and that came in handy in the challenging English conditions. Pietersen was full of praise for Nair after his steady knock at The Oval on Day 1.

The commentator also revealed how impressed he was with Karun’s hard work and focus. He felt proud to see Karun hold India’s innings together and hoped he would go on to score a well-deserved century on Day 2 of the ongoing final Test at The Oval.

Kevin Pietersen posted, X: “So happy for Karun and how he stabilized India’s batting yesterday. He’s a tremendously hard worker on his game, and we spent many hours talking about batting in England during the IPL. I’m hoping he gets a wonderful 100 today!”

So happy for Karun and how he’s stabilised India’s batting yesterday. He’s a tremendously hard worker on his game and we spent many hours talking about batting in England during the IPL.
I’m hoping he gets a wonderful 100 today!

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) August 1, 2025

Karun Nair wins hearts with Spirit of Cricket gesture at The Oval

Meanwhile, Karun Nair reminded everyone why cricket is called the "Gentleman's Game" with a classy act on Day 1 of the ongoing fifth Test at The Oval. As India ran three runs, England’s Chris Woakes injured his shoulder while diving to stop the ball near the boundary.

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Nair noticed Woakes’ pain and chose not to take the fourth run, signalling to Washington Sundar to stay back. His small gesture in a high-pressure Test match won hearts and stood out during the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, full of debates about sportsmanship.