June 7, 2025
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Gautam Gambhir promises Karun Nair a long rope, unlike his initial run: 'Will not judge someone by just one-two Tests'

Gautam Gambhir promises Karun Nair a long rope, unlike his initial run: ‘Will not judge someone by just one-two Tests’

Danijones05 mins

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has asserted that the team management will give comeback man Karun Nair a decent run to showcase his talent on the big stage against England in the five-match Test series. Karun is called back to India’s Test squad for the England tour for the first time after 2017, and with the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, he has a golden opportunity to cement his place in the red-ball set-up. Karun Nair has made a comeback in the Indian Test team for England tour.(PTI) Nair grabbed the attention of selectors once again after an imperious show in domestic cricket last season. He forced his way back into the Indian team after scoring 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy matches with four centuries, and piling up 779 runs in just eight innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which included five hundreds. The stylish batter also made a statement with a double century in India A’s first unofficial Test against England Lions. Nair came out to bat at the number 3 position and scored 204 runs of 281 balls, which was embellished with some classy strokes as he hit 26 fours and a six. Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the media before departing for England, where he heaped praise on Karun for grinding in domestic cricket to make a comeback into the Test side. “It’s great for the future of domestic cricket because all the youngsters who are playing domestic cricket know the importance of domestic cricket. If you keep doing well in domestic cricket, those doors are never shut. It’s always good to have the experience of a guy who’s played a bit of county cricket. There is when he is in a very good form, where he’s got a 200 for India A,” Gambhir said in the press conference. Gambhir further stated that the team management will back Karun and give him enough chances to showcase his talent. “We will not judge someone by just one or two Test matches. I think if someone has scored heaps of runs, I think he will be given a decent run so that he can showcase his talent at this level as well,” he added. “Karun’s experience will come in handy”: Gambhir After scoring a triple century against England in 2016, Karun only got to play three more Tests and was dropped from the Test squad after Australia series in March 2017. The head coach asserted that Karun’s red-ball experience, along with the county cricket he played in the past, will be handy for India. “So it’s always good to have players, especially who are in good form, who are among the ranks as well. So his experience will come in handy, and hopefully, he can deliver,” he added.

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'Rohit bhai does not talk to me much about...': Kuldeep Yadav highlights captain's role | Cricket News

‘Rohit bhai does not talk to me much about…’: Kuldeep Yadav highlights captain’s role | Cricket News

Danijones04 mins

NEW DELHI: Kuldeep Yadav, the Indian spinner, credited Indian skipper Rohit Sharma for his improvement in batting skills during the intense five-match Test series against England earlier this year.Speaking at a press event in Delhi ahead of his IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals’ game against Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Kuldeep shed light on the invaluable guidance he received from Rohit.In India’s commanding 4-1 victory over England at home, Kuldeep played a crucial role not just with the ball but surprisingly with the bat as well. Amassing 19 wickets in four games, including a memorable five-wicket haul, Kuldeep’s contributions extended to his batting performances. He accumulated 97 runs in six innings at an average of 19.40, with a notable highest score of 30.Kuldeep’s batting resilience was particularly evident in pressure situations where his solid defence and composed approach steadied the ship for India. His ability to support his teammates in pursuit of match-saving or match-winning totals added significant value to the team’s efforts.Furthermore, during a recent IPL game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, Kuldeep showcased his batting prowess by scoring a crucial unbeaten 35 runs off 26 balls, comprising five fours and a six.Despite Delhi Capitals facing defeat in the match, Kuldeep’s commendable batting performance earned him recognition as the top-scorer for his team, further enhancing his reputation as a reliable batsman.Kuldeep’s multifaceted contributions with both bat and ball underscore his growing stature as a versatile cricketer, capable of making impactful contributions across all facets of the game.Speaking at the event, Kuldeep said Rohit does not talk much to him regarding his bowling because he is delivering at his role. However, Rohit was concerned about his batting and helped him get better at it by speaking about the nuances of the discipline during nets.“Rohit bhai does not talk to me much about bowling because I am doing what he wants from me with the ball,” Kuldeep said. “He was concerned about my batting. He told me to improve my batting. I worked on it during the Test series against England [at home earlier this year] and he was impressed by my hard work. He used to be with me in the nets and speak to me about the nuances of batting. This helped me a lot and now I am enjoying my batting as much as my bowling,” said Kuldeep.(With ANI inputs)

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