Courtesy: BCCI
Karun Nair, who last featured in India’s Test squad in March 2017, is likely to get a spot in the India A team that will confront England Lions in May-June ahead of the Test sereis. The right-handed batter performed exceptionally with his bat for Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Notching up 863 runs in 16 innings of nine games, he ended up as the fourth-leading run-scorer in the competition. His magnificent batting show was creating pressure on selectors to pick him up for India’s upcoming five-match Test challenge against England, which will start from June 20.
Before the England series, India A will be playing against England Lions for a couple of four-day practice games starting from May 30. Karun also played an instrumental role in Vidarbha’s victory against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium. The 33-year-old played a spunky knock of 135 in the second innings. After guiding his domestic side to the triumph, Karun responded to the question on his chances of making it to India's squad and said, "I'm not the right person to ask. I cannot comment on that. I have to just say that I have to keep performing in every game that I get, and if it happens, it happens. I have to do my job to the best."
Rohit Sharma to lead India in the upcoming Tests against England
Despite the humiliating 1-3 loss against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedy decided continued Rohit Sharma as skipper for the upcoming Test assignment against England. In the five-match Test series against the Aussies, Rohit failed miserably as captain and batter. He could amass only 31 runs in five innings of three games.
India will begin their campaign against the English team at the Headingley Cricket Ground on June 20. Rohit will look to help his team achieve the objective of winning their first Test series on English soil after 18 years. India won their last Test series in England in 2007 under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy.
