ENG vs IND 2018: Aakash Chopra and Harsha Bhogle hail decision to pick Vihari ahead of Karun as unfair

India have picked Hanuma Vihari ahead of Karun Nair for the Oval Test.

Aakash Chopra and Harsha Bhogle thinks it is unfair on Karun Nair.

While everyone is congratulating Andhra Pradesh right-hand batsman Hanuma Vihari for being handed a debut cap for the fifth Test against England, there is a section which can't help but feel for another reserve batsman in the squad, Karun Nair. 

Being 3-1 down in the series, India gave an insight into its plans for the future by playing Hanuma Vihari as an extra batsman and Ravindra Jadeja as the lone spinner for the all-important Oval Test. 

But, while systems are allowed to do whatever they feel is for their betterment, it definitely came across as slightly unfair on Karun Nair, who has already played Test Cricket for India and is only the second Indian batsman behind Virender Sehwag to have scored a triple-century. 

Former Indian Test Cricketer Aakash Chopra and famous commentator Harsha Bhogle, reiterated this point over the social media network Twitter and it was a point well made. 

Chopra, who played 10 Tests for India, wrote, "It’s quite intriguing that no one is talking about the possibility of playing Karun Nair...If India wants to play 6 batsmen, he should be the first choice. If bowling a little is the deal-breaker, it’s another matter... #EngvInd"

While Harsha called it, "a damning statement of what they think of Karun Nair", who has scored 374 runs at 62.33 across 6 Tests for India. 

He further wrote, "India's selectors have just made a damning statement of what they think of Karun Nair as a player. Very very hard on him. Would love to know what he was told when the team was announced."


Truth be told, India thinks Hanuma Vihari is the better player of the two and are well within their right to do what they think is good for the team. 

It may or may not mean much, but Vihari has scored well over 5,000 first-class runs at an average of 59. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 07 Sep, 2018

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