India vs England: Karun Nair gets a pat on the back from Joe Root
It is not just a contest at play in England, but a showdown between arch-rivals. The heat has run blazing across the four India vs England Tests. The contest with the bat and ball is just the foundation of the battle that the opponents have fought over the course of more than a month. On-field collisions, fiery exchanges, and indirect digs in post-match appearances, the Indian and English players have displayed it all. And yet, when a certain player finally found his form, the opponent was ready to applaud the effort in the Oval Test, the final showdown. Karun Nair gained another chance, and the batsman didn't let it slide this time. Batting in tough conditions, Nair played valiantly to score his first fifty of the series and back India's fight on Day 1 of the final India vs England Test.
Joe Root applauds Karun Nair as the batter scores a fighting fifty on Day 1 of the final India vs England Test
When the visitors dropped Karun Nair from the combination for the Manchester Test, it seemed like the batter had run out of his chances in the next part of the India cricket schedule. The England tour started with a double ton for Nair, as he played for India A in a prelude to the India vs England series. However, the batsman could not emulate similar brilliance in the series that marked his return to the Indian Test setup after almost a decade. His return to international cricket has been far from smooth.
Despite his prolific domestic form, Nair struggled to replicate that consistency on the bigger stage. In the first three matches of the series, Nair managed a few promising starts but failed to convert any into substantial scores. As a result, he was left out of the India Playing XI for the Manchester Test, the fourth fixture. However, the Vidarbha player was recalled for the all-important fifth and final Test at the Oval, as the visitors added depth to their batting lineup.
Batting at number five in the final Test, Karun made his opportunity count, fighting in the adverse conditions to reach his half-century. The half-century on the opening day of the final India vs England Test marked his first fifty since the iconic triple century against England in Chennai back in 2016. His innings stood out in difficult conditions at the Oval that staged green pitch, cloudy skies, and seam movement that troubled most of India’s top order. In a lineup that struggled to stitch together meaningful contributions, Karun’s measured knock was a clear exception.
After the day wrapped up with Nair unbeaten on 52 at stumps, cameras captured a heartening moment. Joe Root, who has broke a number of records in the series already, walked over and acknowledged Karun’s effort with a congratulatory pat. The gesture by England's star underlined how significant the innings was, not just for India, but for Karun personally, who had finally made good on the faith shown in him.
Joe Root appreciating the efforts of Karun Nair on Day 1. 👏
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 31, 2025
- Class from Root. pic.twitter.com/atEjShdoFk
Nair's path back to the national side has been anything but seamless. The Karnataka batter moved to Vidarbha, consistently performing in the domestic circuit to bolster his case for selection. The recall eventually arrived after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their Test retirements, leaving spots open in the lineup ahead of the India vs England series. The journey has tested his resilience, and on this day, it brought him a moment of recognition, quite literally, from one of the game’s greats. However, the work is far from being done. Nair, alongside Washington Sundar, will aim to take India closer to the 300-run mark when play resumes on Day 2 of the Oval Test. India ended the opening day at 204/6.
