Not Shubman Gill! Monty Panesar claims Karun Nair holds key to India’s success on England tour

Former England cricketer Monty Panesar predicted the India vs England five-Test match series result, commencing from June 20. India’s young side awaits its first challenge in the red-ball format.

India are heading to the England tour as the underdogs because of its inexperienced side, with many players in the squad having no experience playing in the swinging and seaming conditions in England.

Read also: Mukesh Kumar sparks outrage by wearing Virat Kohli’s iconic No. 18 jersey in India A vs England Lions match

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Monty Panesar’s prediction

Former England spinner Monty Panesar believed that the India team have the strength to surprise England in their own conditions. The fearless in the Indian squad is their biggest strength, and their fearlessness showed in the first India A Test match as they scored 557 runs against England Lions.

“I think there's going to be a fearless India. A young, fearless India that's going to come, and don't be surprised that they could win the series. I think England cannot take it lightly yet. They'll prefer that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are not there, but look what's happening in the Lions match 557; these guys are fearless, so I think there's going to be a fearless India coming to England,” Monty Panesar stated on Hindustan Times.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s absence will be a positive for the England team, but the way Indian youngsters play cricket will be a challenge for the English side.

Monty Panesar credited Karun Nair’s performance in the India A match, as he scored a double-hundred against England Lions. According to Panesar, India’s middle order will decide the result of the Test series, as many batters have played county cricket and know the conditions very well.

If Indian players are able to perform without the pressure of the International level and if they play the same way like they’re playing right now, then they have a better chance of beating England in England, Monty Panesar claimed.

“It would depend on how Karun Nair performs, he scored a double-hundred against the England Lions. He and Shubman Gill, that middle-order, how they bat. I think the batters who've played county cricket, if they are able to then transform that same form at the international level, then I think India have got a chance to win."

"But if they just somehow freeze, it's the big stage, it's the crowd, it's playing for India, it's not playing for Surrey or some other county, and suddenly they're not playing the same level like it's for England Lions when there's only like a dog and, you know, one man and his dog,” Monty Panesar added.

"That, I think, is going to be the deciding factor in how they take on the international arena. If they take it on like they're doing right now, then I think India have got a chance of winning it."

Indian players in county cricket

Karun Nair returned to the Indian squad because of his brilliance in the domestic circuit, and he also had experience in playing for Northamptonshire in county cricket.

Arshdeep Singh received a maiden Test call-up from the selectors as the left-arm pacer also played in county cricket and represented Kent in the county.

Sai Sudarshan played for Surrey in the 2023-24 season, but he played only one Test game against Essex.

India A vs England Lions

Most of the Indian players had landed in the UK and were participating in the India A vs England Lions two-match series. India A scored a mammoth score of 557 runs in the first innings. Nair scored a double-century and made his mark in England after returning to the squad after eight years.

Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel were dismissed in the nervous 90s and missed their centuries as they scored 92 and 94 runs respectively.