Why Did India Choose Karun Nair Over Sarfaraz Khan For England Tour?
(by over correspondent)
India has made historic squad decisions for their upcoming tour, marking the first time since their 2013-14 South Africa series immediately following Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement that the team ventures on a major tour with the primary goal of developing emerging talent. Selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar addressed the numerous questions surrounding these choices.
Batting Order Configuration
With Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane all absent, cricket enthusiasts are curious about India’s batting arrangement. However, selectors have delegated this decision to the team management trio: captain Shubman Gill, coach Gautam Gambhir, and vice-captain Rishabh Pant. The probable lineup suggests Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul as openers, B Sai Sudharsan at number three, and Gill assuming Kohli’s fourth position.
Shami’s Absence Explained
Despite Mohammed Shami’s participation in the Champions Trophy and IPL, his Test absence dates back to the 2023 WTC final. Since then, he has featured in just one first-class match in November 2024, making him unsuitable for Test cricket’s physical demands.
“We attempted to prepare him for this series, but he experienced a recent setback,” Agarkar explained. “Following MRI scans, medical personnel determined he couldn’t handle five Tests. His current workload isn’t adequate for the series demands. We hoped for his partial availability, but continuing to wait isn’t practical when he’s not match-ready.”
Bumrah’s Captaincy Decision
Although Jasprit Bumrah led India to their sole 2024-25 Australia tour victory in Perth and captained in Sydney when Rohit stepped aside, a back stress reaction prevented him from completing that Test—his fifth consecutive match. This injury sidelined him for nearly five months.
India prioritizes Bumrah’s bowling effectiveness over captaincy duties, especially since leading would require him to play every Test, which medical staff believes he cannot sustain across all five England matches.
“His bowling contribution outweighs leadership benefits,” Agarkar stated. “Captaincy brings additional pressures managing 15-16 teammates, which could compromise his primary strength. We discussed this with him, and he understands his physical limitations, preferring to maintain his bowling fitness.”
Arshdeep Singh’s Selection
Arshdeep Singh replaces Harshit Rana from the Australia squad. While Rana possesses the physical attributes for Test bowling, his debut tour revealed control issues that may improve with additional first-class seasons.
Arshdeep’s recent first-class experience is limited—five matches in the 2024-25 domestic season (three Duleep Trophy, two Ranji Trophy) but he brings valuable County Championship experience from five Kent matches in 2023. As a left-arm swing bowler, he offers tactical variety.
“His county cricket experience is valuable,” Agarkar noted. “He participates in all available domestic matches. We’ve observed his tall frame working effectively with the Dukes ball. Beyond left-arm variation, he has substantial red-ball credentials and maintained good form recently. He’s simply a quality bowler. We needed five seamers since Bumrah likely won’t play all five Tests, requiring adequate coverage with tactical diversity.”
Sarfaraz Khan’s Omission
Sarfaraz Khan impressed with twin half-centuries in his debut Test and scored 150 in Bengaluru while India battled a significant deficit. His six-Test average stands at 37.10. However, his complete exclusion from the Australia tour potentially signals team management’s preference to selectors, who have now chosen the more experienced Karun Nair for middle-order duties.
“Sometimes difficult decisions are necessary,” Agarkar acknowledged. “Sarfaraz played three Tests against New Zealand in India, scoring a century in the opener but struggling afterward, then missed Australia entirely. These are team management choices. Whether seemingly fair or unfair, we make decisions prioritizing team interests.
“Currently, Karun has accumulated impressive runs over recent seasons. He has early-career Test experience plus county cricket background, and his batting form is strong. With Virat absent, we lack middle-order experience. Jaiswal tours England for the first time, Gill has played just one Test there. Only KL and Pant have previous series experience there. Nair’s experience could prove crucial. Sometimes decisions disadvantage others, but choices must be made.”
Thakur’s Role
When India toured Australia, Shardul Thakur was recovering from surgery without adequate bowling preparation for selection. When fit, he provides balance as the fourth seamer capable of batting at number eight. Throughout the Australia tour, India struggled because their three allrounders—Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, and Washington Sundar couldn’t function as wicket-taking bowlers in those conditions.
“Shardul is a bowling allrounder,” Agarkar explained. “Team structure sometimes requires a seam-bowling option with batting capability. Nitish Reddy demonstrated batting potential in Australia, but he’s currently a batting allrounder. Hopefully, his bowling continues developing.”
Sai Sudharsan’s Selection Criteria
Sai Sudharsan’s first-class record appears modest: 29 matches averaging under 40. Nevertheless, he has impressed batting observers universally. He scored centuries against touring England Lions and while playing for Australia A abroad, plus a county century, though on a favorable Trent Bridge surface.
“When England Lions visited last year, he toured with the A team,” Agarkar recalled. “I witnessed his performance he scored runs there too, proving his red-ball capabilities. His selection isn’t IPL-based. We’ve recognized his red-ball excellence for some time. He displays proper temperament and appears equipped for top-level success. Match experience will provide better evaluation, but he seems to possess the necessary skills. IPL performances didn’t influence his Test selection. We’ve monitored him for approximately two years since my tenure began, but team spots weren’t previously available. This opportunity certainly merits his inclusion.”
Predicted Starting XI for Headingley (June 20)
While premature to confirm since team management evaluates net practice performance, an educated projection suggests:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- B Sai Sudharsan
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper)
- Karun Nair
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Shardul Thakur/Kuldeep Yadav
- Prasidh Krishna
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
The Thakur-Kuldeep choice depends on pitch conditions. If spin assistance seems unlikely, a fourth seamer at number eight might be preferable. If spin is expected, resist selecting a spinner primarily for batting ability. Should India need Washington Sundar or Nitish Reddy, they should replace a batsman rather than a specialist bowler.