"How lonely it was for him..."- KL Rahul opens up about Karun Nair's struggle to get back into the test team

KL Rahul and Karun Nair showed brilliant batting form in the unofficial test series against England Lions.

The countdown for India’s tour of England 2025 has begun as the first test will commence on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. England and India will lock horns in five exciting test matches during the series, which will conclude with the fifth game at the Kia Oval in London.

Under new test skipper Shubman Gill, India have a young squad that comprises many newcomers and less experienced members. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who quit the test format last month, have left a massive void to be filled in the batting department.

Hence, batters like Karun Nair and KL Rahul will have a huge responsibility to showcase their might with the bat against England. Interestingly, Nair has made a comeback to the test team after eight years. He last played for the team in March 2017. Rahul is expected to move up the order as an opener to fill former skipper Sharma’s slot.

It’s very inspiring – KL Rahul on Karun Nair’s test comeback

During a chat with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rahul heaped praise on teammate Nair following his comeback to the test side. He also feels Nair’s experience in England’s county cricket will be helpful in the upcoming test series against the Ben Stokes-led side. The right-handed batsman represented Northamptonshire in county cricket in the past.

“It’s very inspiring as well and hopefully his experience and his learnings from playing county cricket here will hold him in good stead when he plays the Test matches here,” the right-handed batter said.

“I’ve known him for a very long time and the months that he spent here in the UK playing cricket and how hard and how lonely it was for him to be able to do all of that and come back into the Indian Team – I think it’s special for him, for his family and for friends like us who’ve seen his journey,” the 33-year-old further added.

Meanwhile, both the batters showed a wonderful batting form for India A in the recent unofficial test series against England Lions. Nair smacked a double century in the first unofficial test at St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury. Rahul hammered a century in the second unofficial test at Northampton.

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