Indian batter Karun Nair made a surprising and powerful return to the Test arena today, scoring an unbeaten 52 runs off 98 balls on Day 1 of the fifth Test against England at The Oval. Coming in under tough conditions-overcast skies, a swinging ball, and a shaky top-order-Nair stood tall as India closed the day at 204/6, before rain brought play to a halt in the 64th over.

A Comeback Few Expected

After missing four consecutive Tests, Nair was brought back into the squad, replacing Shardul Thakur. While many questioned the move, Nair’s gritty half-century under pressure not only proved his value but also reignited conversations about his long-term potential in India’s middle order.

Mounting Criticism Before the Breakthrough

Before this Test, Nair had been under fire for inconsistent performances. Former cricketers like Murali Kartik openly questioned whether he had truly capitalized on his opportunities. Ravi Shastri even remarked that his inability to anchor innings at Lord’s “left the door wide open” for England to dominate.

The chatter on social media wasn’t kind either. Fans debated whether he deserved a spot in the playing XI, with hashtags like #DropNair trending after India’s earlier losses in the series.

Backing from the Legends

Yet, not all voices were critical. Harbhajan Singh and Deep Dasgupta both expressed confidence in Nair’s class. Harbhajan tweeted just hours before today’s game: “Big players rise on big days. I believe Karun will prove the doubters wrong.”

Dasgupta, meanwhile, argued for stability in the middle order, stating that Karun’s experience and technique were assets India couldn’t afford to lose.

Domestic Brilliance Behind the Scenes

While out of the national spotlight, Nair had a phenomenal domestic season with Vidarbha and later rejoined Karnataka for the 2025–26 campaign. In the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he was named Player of the Tournament, scoring 779 runs with five centuries and an average of over 77. He also set a global List‑A record for most consecutive unbeaten runs in a series: 542 runs without dismissal.

What This Means for India

Today’s innings at The Oval may mark a turning point in Karun Nair’s career. Not just because of the runs he scored, but because of how he scored them-calm, focused, technically sound, and under extreme pressure.

In a side that has been struggling to find consistency in the middle order, this performance could put him firmly back in contention-not just for this series, but for the next World Test Championship cycle.