Overview

• Nair scored an unbeaten 57 on Day 1 at The Oval to anchor India’s innings at 204/6 in challenging, rain-affected conditions.
• He was recalled for the series decider after being dropped for the fourth Test, stepping in for Shardul Thakur during intense scrutiny over his earlier failures.
• The half-century was his first Test fifty in nine years, arriving long after his debut triple century in Chennai.
• Former players Dinesh Karthik and Varun Aaron praised his “high-quality fifty” and commended his purposeful soft hands against lateral movement.
• The innings under pressure offers the 31-year-old a possible turning point in a middle order reshaped by veteran retirements.