Karun Nair’s much-talked about return to the Test side after 8 years ended in a damp squib as the batter was sent back for a duck after England vice captain Ollie Pope pulled off a stunner at Leeds on Day 2 of the 1st Test. As a result of Nair’s dismissal, India lost two quick wickets on Day 2 with skipper Shubman Gill also back in the hut after scoring 147 runs.
Nair’s wicket came on the last ball of the 105th over bowled by Ben Stokes with the England captain opting for a outswinger which was wide of the off stump. A tentative shot by Nair led to the ball flying in the air and Pope, who was situated at cover, dived to his left and snapped up a stunning grab.
this edit 😝🙏
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JINX😭😭🙏
Justice for Karun Nair #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/dWUQLHduTd— Dheer (@CricITpolitics) June 21, 2025
India would lose more wickets after Nair as Rishabh Pant was gone for 134, followed by Shardul Thakur for 1 as India posted 454/7 at Lunch on Day 2.
On Friday, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill proved that there is still plenty of depth left in the Indian batting line-up, with both scoring centuries as the visitors piled on the runs to end day one of the first test on 359-3.
The next 10 tests could define how the combination of skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum are viewed, after plenty of highs and lows over the past few years, with the Ashes series in Australia following India’s visit.
Putting India into bat to apply further pressure, at a ground where each of the previous six test matches have been won by the side bowling first, 23-year-old Jaiswal proved that the tourists had quickly transitioned from the old to the new.
The scourge of England, however, was not overawed by any stretch, as he became the first Indian batter to score centuries in his first match in both Australia and England with a flawless display of off-side batting.
Three of Jaiswal’s five centuries have come against England. In total, he has now amassed a colossal 813 runs in 10 tests when facing McCullum’s side.
(With agency inputs)
