Ravi Shastri Slams Karun Nair After Lord’s Defeat: “To Leave a Straight, Nothing Ball…”

Ravi Shastri Slams Karun Nair After Lord’s Defeat: Karun Nair has the heat squarely on him. Following his dismissal in the second innings in Lord s being refuted by former BCCI selector Devang Gandhi and former keeper Deep Dasgupta who are of the view that he does not deserve a place in the Indian Test XI going forward, Ravi Shastri who is a former India coach lashed out at him. Shastri identified two turning points that swung the third Test at Lord towards the English camp: run out of Rishabh Pant near the end of a first session Day 3 and an inexplicable leave of Karun Nair in the second Innings that brought the dam set for a spectacular Indian collapse.

Also Read: Bihar SHO Suspended for Negligence in Gopal Khemka Case

In pursuit of a meager 193 to win, India was bowled out for 170, and the team lost by only 22 runs with the series scorecard being 2-1 in favor of England.

In his appearance on The ICC Review, Shastri did not hesitate to evaluate how India lost their opportunities and did not spare harsh words when talking about Karun Nair sending off.

“At 40 for one (in the second innings), I thought that was a huge lapse in concentration from Karun Nair to leave a straight ball — a nothing ball — and open the door for England,” Shastri said. “The timing of that dismissal turned things around.”

Shastri feels that the Indian top-order did not have mental capacity that they require during the closing phases of a close match. "If the top order had just been a little tougher and mentally stronger on Day 4, towards the end, this game would have been India's," he added.

England having been left behind in the most parts of the game gained traction due to alert Ben Stokes whose Acute fielding cut short Rishabh Pant persona grata of 74 in the first innings. Pant, hitherto having kept the fortune of India alive by a counter-attacking stroke, ran himself out, shortly before lunchtime and Shastri referred to this as the real turning point of the game.

“Ben Stokes… simply outstanding presence of mind to hit at the right end and pull it off on the stroke of lunch,” he said. “Because India would have got a lead and they were in the driver's seat. That was the turning point for me.”

Pants run-out stopped the flow of India and Nair losing wits in the second innings led to their break. After scoring 42 off 2, India plunged to 82 off 7 ceding the initiative to England.

Also Read: Jairam Ramesh Questions PM Modi in Parliament Over Trump's Ceasefire Claims on India-Pakistan

Shastri, who was present in the Indian victorious in Lord 2021 as a coach, mentioned the parallels but also the fact that an opportunity was missed. “It reminded me so much of that 2021 Test. But this time it was England who pounced. With a little bit of luck, India could have been 3-0 up in this series.”

That setback notwithstanding, Shastri was still optimistic of chances of India, at least their resilience and depth. “It reminded me so much of that 2021 Test. But this time it was England who pounced. With a little bit of luck, India could have been 3-0 up in this series.”

And the former coach also hailed England captain Ben Stokes who bowled 24 overs and grabbed three very important wickets, including of KL Rahul.

“You have to compliment England. When the going got tough, those moments they seized,” Shastri said. “Stokes bowling those spells… 10 overs towards the end to clinch it for England. That’s what champions do.”

It will now be on India to rebound and fight back just as the series moves to Manchester where the fourth test will be played beginning July 23. But until then, there are still questions to be asked and Karun Nair in a crunch situation will under the scanner.

Also Read: SC Relaxes Bail Conditions for Ashoka Prof, Orders SIT to Conclude Probe in 4 Weeks