IND vs ENG: Karun Nair's long awaited India return ends in agony as Ollie Pope’s stunning catch sends him packing for 4-ball duck, Watch video

Karun Nair's highly-anticipated return to India's Test side after a long gap of eight years didn't ended disappointingly as the batter was dismissed for a four-ball duck on Day 2 of the first Test against England at Leeds. It was England's vice-captain Ollie Pope's jawdropping catch which cut short Karun Nair's stay on the crease.

Returning to the Indian Test side for the first time since 2017, the right-handed batter walked out to bat on Day 2 of the first Test against England. However, his innings was short-lived, as he was dismissed without scoring, facing only four balls.

Nair's dismissal led to India losing two quick wickets on the second day, as skipper Shubman Gill was also sent back to the pavilion after scoring an impressive 147 runs.

Nair's wicket fell on the final delivery of the 105th over, bowled by England's captain, Ben Stokes. Stokes opted for an outswinging delivery, pitched wide of the off-stump. Nair attempted a tentative shot, resulting in the ball flying towards the cover region where Ollie Pope, positioned specifically for the catch, made a stunning diving grab to his left.

Watch Karun Nair's dismissal on four-ball duck here:

Interestingly, Nair had been dropped from the Indian Test team during their tour of England in 2018. However, the 33-year-old fought his way back into contention by consistently scoring runs in the domestic cricket circuit. His impressive performances in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 played a significant role in his recall, where he emerged as the fourth-highest run-scorer of the season for Vidarbha, amassing 863 runs at an average of 53.93, including four centuries and two half-centuries.

Prior to his Ranji Trophy success, Nair was also instrumental in his team's journey to the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. He was the highest run-scorer in that tournament, scoring a remarkable 779 runs in just eight innings at an astounding average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04, with five centuries and one fifty. He also topped the run-scoring charts for his team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25, scoring 255 runs with a healthy average and strike rate. Nair had openly expressed his eagerness to make a comeback to the Indian side, and his consistent performances across formats finally earned him the opportunity.

Meanwhile, on Day 2 of the Test match, India had established a commanding position, largely due to a impactful partnership between Shubman Gill (147) and Rishabh Pant (134). The duo added 209 runs for the fourth wicket, propelling India's score beyond 430. However, following their dismissals, the quick wickets of Nair and Shardul Thakur for low scores left India at 454 for 7 at the lunch interval.