Karun Nair Dropped from India’s Squad for England Test Series
Mumbai –
The Indian cricket team is set to tour England next month (June) for a five-match Test series. The first Test between India and England will begin on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds. The 18-member Indian Test squad for this high-profile series was announced yesterday in Mumbai by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee.
In a surprising turn of events, Karun Nair, who had made a return to the Indian setup after eight years due to his consistent domestic performance, has now been dropped from the squad. All-rounder Shardul Thakur, meanwhile, has been recalled. Fast bowler Harshit Rana and batsman Sarfaraz Khan, both of whom were part of the recent Australia series, have been excluded.
Among the omissions, Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion has stirred widespread disappointment. Despite performing well in domestic cricket and scoring crucial half-centuries in his debut series against England, Sarfaraz was left out. Notably, he also scored a century in the recent series against New Zealand, proving his capability at the international level. His removal, despite such efforts, has raised questions among fans and experts alike, especially with Karun Nair being picked instead.
Addressing the concerns, selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar offered clarification for the decision. He stated:
“Sometimes a decision can appear fair to one and unfair to another. At the moment, Karun Nair has been scoring heavily in the domestic circuit. He has also had some match experience in England through county cricket. There are times when tough decisions must be made. Sarfaraz did score a hundred in his debut Test against New Zealand, but has struggled to score runs consistently since then.
With Virat Kohli not part of the current squad, the team lacks a bit of experience in the middle order. In such a situation, we felt Karun Nair’s prior experience and exposure to English conditions would benefit the team.”
Agarkar’s explanation reflects the selectors’ focus on experience and form over short-term impact. While fans of Sarfaraz may be disappointed, the management appears to have opted for a more seasoned option to balance a relatively young and inexperienced batting lineup.
As the team prepares to take on England in challenging overseas conditions, all eyes will be on how the selected squad performs — and whether the selectors’ controversial calls pay off in the long run.
