Karun Nair ideal replacement for Virat Kohli at No 4 for Tests: Anil Kumble

Dubai: Indian former spinner and coach Anil Kumble feels Karun Nair as the ideal candidate to replace Virat Kohli at No 4 for Test cricket.

Indian star batter Kohli recently announced his retirement from the longest format just as Team India were getting ready for their next assignment in England. The five-match Test series marks the start of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-2027 cycle.

With both key players Rohit Sharma and Kohli announcing their retirements, there's a lot of discussion about players likely to replace the veterans.

Nair, who last played for India in March 2017, and has been in great form makes a right candidate, Kumble said.

"Karun deserves to come back into the Indian team with the kind of domestic run he has had. So perhaps he could be the No.4 for India because I feel, you need a bit of experience. You ned someone in England who has been there and done that. He has played County cricket, so he knows the conditions. Karun may be on the other side of 30, but he is still young. If he gets an opportunity, there will be a lot more hope for youngsters to play first-class cricket. If the sheer performance in domestic cricket doesn't get recognised, it becomes a bit of a challenge," Kumble told ESPNcricinfo.

Crucial role

Nair played a crucial role in Vidarbha’s triumph in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, finishing as the fourth-highest run-getter of the season. He aggregated 863 runs from 16 innings at an average of 53.93, registering four hundreds and two fifties. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he was the highest run-scorer, amassing 779 runs from eight innings at a mind-boggling average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04 with five hundreds and one fifty. The right-handed batter also had a stellar outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

His good show in the domestic circuit is likely to be rewarded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as they prepare to pick the India A side, which will face the England Lions in two four-day matches during the May-June window in preparation for the five-match Test series against England.