As rumors speculated about the possible Test retirement of Virat Kohli, former India head coach Anil Kumble has backed Karun Nair as the perfect replacement at the vital No. 4 batting spot. Kumble, who is renowned for his talent-spotting ability, took note of Nair’s red-ball domestic form as a clear sign of him being prepared.
“Karun has been consistently scoring in the domestic circuit,” stated Kumble. “His run appetite, experience, and temperament make him the right candidate to play No. 4 in Tests in case Kohli chooses to take a backstep.”
Nair, who famously scored a triple century in only his third Test appearance, has struggled to cement his place in the Indian squad since. However, his recent exploits with the bat in domestic cricket have sparked calls for a national recall, especially amid the uncertainty surrounding Kohli’s future.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is doing its best to do damage control and try to keep Kohli on board, Kumble’s backing of Nair fuels an increasing debate on succession planning in India’s Test team.
