Karun Nair Shines Amidst India's Lineup Shuffle in Final Test

As of August 1, 2025, the ongoing Test series between India and England has been marked by a significant number of changes to the Indian team's playing XI. According to former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu, the team management has made nearly 11 changes across the first four matches of the series.

In the fifth and final Test, which began on July 31, 2025, India made four more changes to their lineup. With Rishabh Pant ruled out due to injury, Dhruv Jurel was brought in, while Karun Nair, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna replaced Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, and Anshul Kamboj.

Sidhu, who shared his views in a video on his YouTube channel, criticized the constant chopping and changing, stating that it feels like a "game of musical chairs" and that India will need to settle on a stable and established combination.

However, amidst the lineup shuffles, one player who stood out on Day 1 of the final Test was Karun Nair. The 33-year-old, who had struggled to convert his starts in the previous matches, scored an unbeaten 50 and formed a crucial partnership with Washington Sundar. Sidhu praised Nair's "beautiful, gritty 50" and said that his performance was "no less than a century" given the challenging conditions.

As India closed the day at 204/6, Sidhu's words serve as a reminder that even in the face of constant changes, individual performances can still shine through and make a significant impact on the team's fortunes.