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The opening day of the fifth and final Test between England and India was packed with fierce competition and high-quality cricket. But amid the intensity, one moment stole the spotlight — Karun Nair’s admirable act of sportsmanship, which quickly went viral, earning him praise for upholding the spirit of cricket.
Karun Nair and Washington Sundar’s heart-touching gesture on Day 1
In the 59th over, English pace all-rounder Chris Woakes got injured while trying to stop a boundary. He ran from mid-off but slipped on the wet ground and fell badly on his left shoulder. He stayed down, clearly in pain, as the physios came in to check on him. After a quick assessment, Woakes walked off the field, using his sweater to support his injured arm. The moment left England worried, as they could now be without one of their key players for the rest of the match.
Meanwhile, Indian batters Nair and Washington Sundar earned praise for their sportsmanship during the incident. After noticing Woakes was hurt while stopping the ball near the boundary, they chose not to run a fourth despite the opportunity. Their decision reflected true respect for the spirit of the game, as they avoided gaining from an opponent’s misfortune during a tense Test match.
Nair and Washington steadied the Indian ship after an early collapse
On a green pitch that helped the bowlers, India struggled and were reduced to 153 for 6. In this important match, Nair and Sundar fought back with a solid 51-run stand for the seventh wicket. Nair scored a much-needed half-century—his first in eight years—which could help him keep his place in the team. Sundar, who had earlier hit his maiden century at Old Trafford, once again stood strong against some tough bowling. With India ending the day at 204, both batters will look to add more runs and give the team a better chance on the second day.
