Karun Nair's Stellar Double Century Signals Strong Comeback Ahead of England Test Series
Karun Nair Shines with a Double Hundred
On Saturday, May 31, Indian cricketer Karun Nair made headlines by scoring a remarkable double century against the England Lions, showcasing his readiness for the upcoming Test series against England. His impressive performance helped his team surpass the 400-run mark in Canterbury, demonstrating his comfort in the playing conditions. Despite some doubts regarding his selection for the first Test against England on June 20 in Leeds, Nair's innings certainly made a strong case for his inclusion.
🚨 DOUBLE HUNDRED FOR KARUN NAIR 🚨
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 31, 2025
– Batting at 3 for India A in his return to the team, he has made statement, What a knock, unbelievable innings from Karun against England Lions 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/09WOd2IcK5
Nair stepped onto the field early on Day 1 after Abhimanyu Easwaran was dismissed for just 8 runs by Josh Hull. He formed a partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, contributing 39 runs for the second wicket before Jaiswal was out in the 17th over. Nair then joined forces with Sarfaraz Khan, and together they built a formidable partnership of 181 runs for the third wicket until Sarfaraz was dismissed by Hull in the 56th over, effectively stalling England's momentum after Jaiswal's wicket.
Continuing his impressive form, Nair and Dhruv Jurel added 195 runs for the fourth wicket until Ajeet Dale claimed Jurel's wicket in the 95th over. Nair then partnered with Shardul Thakur for a quick 34-run stand for the sixth wicket before Zaman Akhter caught Nair off guard, leading to his dismissal. This innings marked Nair's fourth double century, with his highest first-class score being 328 against Tamil Nadu during the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy.
Notably, Nair has previously scored over 200 runs without being dismissed. This marks his second double century in England, having scored an unbeaten 202 for Northamptonshire against Glamorgan last year. Following in the footsteps of Virender Sehwag, Nair is only the second Indian cricketer to achieve a triple hundred in Test cricket.