Karun Nair showcased his batting prowess on Day 1 of the first four-day match between India A and the England Lions at St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury. Karun, batting at number 3, looked comfortable and played well on an easy batting pitch after the captain Abhimanyu Easwaran got out early.
He became the first Indian to notch up a century on this much-anticipated England tour. The 33-year-old, making a return to the Indian Test setup after seven years, brought up his 24th first-class hundred. It also marked back-to-back fifty-plus scores in red-ball cricket, following his match-winning ton in the Ranji Trophy final for Vidarbha in February.
Karun Nair reached the milestone in 155 deliveries during the post-Tea session, nudging leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed for a double. He acknowledged the feat by taking off his helmet, basking in the applause from the Indian dressing room and spectators. Teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan stood in appreciation of the fine innings.
Karun Nair 100 great innings ❤️ https://t.co/44sYJEMBWy pic.twitter.com/rLfxipLwvD
— Mahesh (@ICTMANTHAN) May 30, 2025
Sarfaraz Misses Out on Ton After Promising Knock
Sarfaraz Khan narrowly missed a century, falling for 92 shortly after Tea on Day 1 of the four-day match. He had earlier reached his fifty in 85 balls during a fluent knock and shared a 181-run stand with Karun Nair, who batted at No. 4. England Lions started strong with their pace attack, removing Abhimanyu Easwaran for 8 and Yashasvi Jaiswal for 24.
Despite early movement with the new ball, Karun Nair handled the challenge superbly, blending solid footwork with elegant stroke play. By Tea, he had hit 14 boundaries, firmly placing India A in control. Sarfaraz Khan, overlooked for the England Test series, made a strong case with a patient and mature innings.
He reached fifty in 87 balls and comfortably handled spinners before accelerating, scoring 42 runs off 31 balls. Shortly after Tea, he was dismissed by left-arm pacer Hull trying to attack a delivery down the leg side, edging it to the keeper. Sarfaraz was visibly disappointed to miss out on a crucial hundred.
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