On two different days, in two different Tests, two Indian batters made the same mistake, leaving a straight delivery that crashed into their pads. Both were plumb LBWs. But the aftermath? Couldn’t have been more different.

•Shubman Gill, India’s captain, got called “unlucky.”
• Karun Nair, a fringe player, got dropped from the very next Test.

Nair’s Exit: A Flaw Picked Apart

During the tense Lord’s Test, Karun Nair misjudged a length ball that angled in and struck flush on his pad. He didn’t offer a shot. The umpire didn’t hesitate. Neither did the critics.
From commentators to fans, Nair’s leave was branded “poor decision-making,” “Test rust,” and a “mental error in crunch time.”
The judgment didn’t stop there, Nair was left out of the squad for the 4th Test at Old Trafford, replaced by a younger, more dynamic option. One mistake, and out.

Gill’s Fall: Captain Gets the Cushion

In the very next Test, Day 1 at Manchester, Shubman Gill made the exact same error. He shouldered arms to a full-length ball that tailed in sharply. It hit the pad, hit the stumps.
But the narrative changed. Suddenly, the ball was a “jaffer.” The dismissal? “Unfortunate.”
Experts leaned toward blaming conditions and praising the bowler. Social media gave him a pass, he’s “our captain,” after all.

Also read : Pant’s Pain Halts India’s Progress on Day 1 at Old Trafford https://clickingtosports.com/rishabh-pant-injury-turns-day-1-india-england-old-trafford/

Dropped vs Defended, Reputation Writes the Rules

•Karun Nair didn’t have the shield of captaincy. No long rope. No narrative to fall back on. His mistake cost him a spot.
•Shubman Gill had stature on his side. Leadership, reputation, and brand equity gave him a second chance, without question.
In India’s red-ball ecosystem, the same technical error can be forgiven or fatal, depending on who you are.

Test cricket is unforgiving, but perception makes it even crueler. One batter gets dropped. The other gets defended. The only difference? Not the ball. Not the dismissal. Just the name on the back of the jersey.

Also read : Sai Sudharsan’s Blunt ‘Consequences’ Remark After Rishabh Pant’s Serious Injury https://sports-ndtv-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/sports.ndtv.com/england-vs-india-2025/sai-sudharsan-expects-consequences-reflects-on-rishabh-pants-injury-8936429/amp/1?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17533408452567&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.ndtv.com%2Fengland-vs-india-2025%2Fsai-sudharsan-expects-consequences-reflects-on-rishabh-pants-injury-8936429