Anil Kumble picks India’s next number four after Virat Kohli’s Test retirement

Former Indian head coach Anil Kumble has picked Karun Nair as India’s next number four batter after Virat Kohli’s Test retirement. Kumble highlighted that the Vidarbha captain has the experience of playing County Cricket, which would come in handy on the upcoming tour of England.

Nair has been in tremendous form in the domestic circuit, scoring 863 runs in nine matches of the Ranji Trophy at an average of 53.94, with the help of four centuries. The right-hander played an instrumental role in taking Vidarbha to the final of the Ranji Trophy.

On the other hand, Nair also amassed 779 runs in nine matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at an average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04, with the help of five hundreds.

“Karun (Nair) probably deserves to come back into the Indian team with the kind of domestic run he has had. So perhaps he could be that number four for India.

“You need a bit of experience. You need somebody, especially in England, who’s been there and done that. He has played county cricket in England, so he knows the conditions. I am sure he’ll be someone who will be wanting to part of the line-up,” Kumble told ESPN Cricinfo.

The former Indian skipper urged selectors to not mix different formats and pick a team based on first-class format performance.

“There are youngsters too. Sai Sudharsan, again, whether he’ll open. (Abhimanyu) Easwawan, he was part of the Australia squad, I don’t know whether he’ll come back into this team because what we tend to also do is mix formats.

The former leg-spinner said Karun Nair deserves his chances on the England tour after a consistent run in the domestic circuit.

“I hope the general public who are watching and there is so much of social media exchanges today that people don’t mix ODI cricket with Test match cricket or first-class cricket. People who have done well at the first-class level should certainly be given an opportunity to play for India.

“Karun (Nair) maybe on the other side of 30, but with the kind of scores that he has had in the domestic format, if someone like him gets an opportunity then there will be a lot more hope for youngsters to play those domestic formats,” Kumble added.

India will face England in the opening Test at Leeds, Headingley on June 20.