Karun Nair’s eagerly awaited return to Test cricket after eight years ended in heartbreak on Day 2 of the first Test against England at Headingley, as he fell for a four-ball duck. India still managed to reach 458/4 by stumps, driven by centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, but Nair’s brief stay cast a shadow over his fairytale comeback.
Nair, recalled after scoring 863 runs in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy and 779 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, walked in at No. 6 after Gill’s dismissal for 147, caught off Shoaib Bashir. Facing Ben Stokes, Nair struggled against a probing spell. A full, wide delivery tempted him into a cover drive, but he failed to keep it down. Ollie Pope took a stunning diving catch at short cover, leaving Nair stunned as he walked back for zero. Fans on X expressed disappointment, with one post lamenting, “Karun Nair’s duck after 3006 days – cricket can be cruel.” Another noted, “All hype went in vain. Nair’s 4-ball duck on a batting paradise hurts.”
Despite Nair’s failure, India dominated. Jaiswal’s 101 laid the foundation, Gill’s 147 marked a captain’s knock, and Pant’s unbeaten 130, sealed with a backflip celebration, kept England under pressure. The hosts, with Stokes’ 3/63 leading a tiring attack, managed just one wicket on Day 2 on a flat pitch. Nair’s duck, however, raised questions about his spot, especially with Abhimanyu Easwaran and Nitish Reddy in the squad. After his 2016 triple-century against England, Nair’s latest chapter began poorly, but India’s strong position offers hope for redemption in the second innings.
