Former India captain and spin legend Anil Kumble has backed Karun Nair as a strong contender for the No. 4 spot in India’s Test batting lineup following Virat Kohli’s sudden retirement from red-ball cricket on May 12. With the five-match Test series against England looming large, Kumble believes Nair’s domestic form and experience in English conditions make him a suitable replacement in what is shaping up to be a new era for Indian Test cricket.
India’s upcoming tour to England marks the beginning of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. With both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping away from the longest format, the Indian team finds itself in transition. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Kumble highlighted that Nair’s pedigree and familiarity with English pitches through County cricket could be invaluable.
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“Karun deserves to come back into the Indian team with the kind of domestic run he has had. He knows the English conditions, having played County cricket, and that’s crucial. He might be past 30, but he’s still young in terms of potential. Giving him another opportunity would also reinforce the importance of performing in first-class cricket. When such consistent efforts go unnoticed, it disheartens many budding players,” Anil Kumble noted.
It’s worth remembering that Nair’s career-best Test score — an unbeaten 303 — came against England in Chennai in 2016. Despite such a remarkable feat, his Test career stalled after just six matches, with his last appearance coming in March 2017.
However, Nair has rebuilt his case with stunning form in the 2024–25 domestic season. He was instrumental in Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy win, scoring 863 runs at an average of 53.93, including four centuries. He topped the Vijay Hazare Trophy run charts with 779 runs at an astonishing average of 389.50, including five centuries.
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According to reports, the BCCI is considering him for the India A squad for the two four-day games against the England Lions ahead of the England Tests. If Nair delivers, a long-awaited return to the Indian Test squad might finally be on the horizon.
