MSK Prasad on Karun Nair’s exclusion: “It’s really tough to inform any unpleasant news to any player”

MSK Prasad on Karun Nair’s exclusion: The Chief Selector has finally spoken about Karun Nair’s exclusion from the Test team.

After putting in the hard yards in domestic cricket for several years, Karnataka’s Karun Nair is gaining plentiful of opinions these days, albeit in a context contrary to what he would have initially thought of.

Nair, 26, has walked a tough path of ignorance in the last series or so. After being named in India’s Test squad for the series against England, Nair was pinned down by Hanuma Vihari for the middle-order position in the last Test at The Oval. In a move which surprised a lot of people, it saw Vihari scoring a half-century on debut in testing conditions to further stake his claim.

Since the squad comprises of less number of players in a home series, Nair was shown the door. From scoring a triple century a couple of years ago to failing with the bat to not even been given an opportunity to prove himself, Nair was hard done by.

There were reports of no communication from the selectors (to Nair), which further added fuel to the whole episode. However, chief selector MSK Prasad has finally revealed that he had a word with Nair and had laid emphasis on him piling on the runs in domestic cricket in a bid to walk back into the Test team.

“I personally spoke to Karun soon after the selection of the Test team against the West Indies and also told the ways to make a comeback. The selection committee is very, very clear with regard to the communication process. He will have to keep on piling runs in Ranji Trophy and whatever India A series is there.

“Karun is very much in the scheme of things for Test cricket. Right now, we have advised him to focus on performing in domestic and India A matches”, Prasad told PTI.

Prasad was also vocal about the selection committee communicating on a regular basis with the players. “Communication has always been the strong point of this committee. It’s really tough to inform any unpleasant news to any player. You need to have valid reasons to explain them about their exclusion though they may not agree with it.

“Having said that, we are very clear and candid in our communication process. My colleague Devang Gandhi spoke to Karun Nair at length in England to keep him motivated and wait for his opportunities”, Prasad added.

Below are some of the Twitter reactions on the whole issue: