To Karun He was meant to perform the redemption song on the stage of Nair, England. In which he would resurrect a Test career that started out with so much potential but was derailed by circumstances beyond his control. He would eventually delete unpleasant memories of his prior trip with the Indian team in 2018, when he was ignored at the altar of a mid-series reinforcement, Hanuma Vihari, even if he was in the original party.

After three games of his return as a Test batter, Karun has not contributed much to advance his position. Although he hasn't appeared out of place, his results haven't shown that he is comfortable in the five-day format. Karun is the only player in the top four from either side who has not scored a half-century in a series that has been mostly ruled by the bat. He has 131 runs at an average of 21.83 and a high of 40, a fluid innings in the first innings of the third Test that was cut short by an amazing left-handed catch at first slip by Joe Root, after six innings, the last of which was a late Sunday evening catastrophe when he was caught leg before giving Brydon Carse any stroke at Lord's.

When you're attempting to integrate back into the larger picture, these things occur, you know. Unusual methods of dismissal or outstanding catches emerge unexpectedly, and strange spokes in the wheel become commonplace. As though the cricketing Gods are mocking you, testing your resilience, inner fortitude, mental fortitude, hunger, and despair.

The truth is that Karun Nair is on dangerous ground.

Oddly enough, the 33-year-old has not appeared to be out of place.

He hasn't acted as if he thinks he doesn't belong, nor has he been anxious or anxious. In all of his time at the batting crease, save for the first innings of the first Test, he has appeared at ease, helped by the first two games' flat pitches, which resulted in genuine run-fests. However, that one pivotal, career-saving blow has been noticeably elusive.

Karun's undefeated 303 against the same opponent in Chennai over eight years ago, which was the third and, as of now, the most recent triple century by an Indian in Tests, should have paved the way for bigger accomplishments. However, that achievement has taken on the proportions of a millstone and hangs heavy around his neck in many respects. In spite of the new leadership team's wish to break away from the past, his accomplishments in the home arena for Vidarbha and Northamptonshire over the previous two seasons ensured his selection. However, when he came back to England last month with the Test team, he had to put the memory of 303 behind him.

Due to the lengthy gap between Test appearances, Karun's desire to get off to a good start in the first innings at Headingley may be excused or even sympathized with. Trying to force the ball over cover with a scything willow, he encountered a floaty ball from Ben Stokes, but Ollie Pope threw himself to his left, like a goalie, and sent him packing for a duck. With the hope that things could only improve from there, it was the worst imaginable beginning to his new career as a Test cricketer. His last five innings have seen them start, albeit only slightly – 20, 31, 26, 40, and 14 – but he hasn't even hit a daddy fifty, much less a daddy hundred.

Team strategy is now the deciding factor in Karun Nair's future.

The fourth Test in Manchester, which begins on July 23, is a long way away from the thrilling, tense, emotional, and intense final day at Lord's on Monday, when India needs 135 runs and England needs six wickets to go 2-1 ahead. Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill will use this time to determine whether they should continue with Karun or revert to Sai Sudharsan, who scored 0 and 30 in his Leeds debut. One line of reasoning could be that we should continue to have faith in Karun because he hasn't seemed out of sorts, even though his lack of a big score is evident. Another option would be to reintroduce the left-handed Sudharsan at No. 3 in a forward-thinking move, which might put an end to Karun's all-too-brief return to the five-day format.

Before deciding, Gill and Gambhir will give it a lot of thought. Naturally, they will prioritize what is best for Karun, but the larger perspective will compel them to concentrate on what is best for the group. If the dice doesn't fall in Karun's favor, he may feel hard done by, but he will also be the first to admit that he contributed to that outcome. Sometimes, that's how things fall apart.

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