After being dominated by England batters Harry Brook and Jamie Smith earlier, India mounted a strong comeback on Day 3 of the Edgbaston Test in Birmingham. By stumps, India had taken an overall lead of 244 runs with nine wickets still in hand, setting the stage for a potentially match-defining fourth day.
KL Rahul and Karun Nair resumed the innings with determination, aiming to stretch India’s advantage. However, England pacer Brydon Carse had other plans and targeted Karun Nair with a barrage of short deliveries.
Carse’s approach was markedly different from that of Prasidh Krishna, who had failed to contain Brook and Smith during their onslaught on Day 2. The English pacer’s disciplined short-ball tactics proved far more effective.
During the 17th over, Carse charged in and unleashed a fiery bouncer that forced Karun Nair into evasive action. Unfortunately for the Indian batter, the ball followed him and struck him hard on the helmet visor.
Medical personnel quickly rushed to the field as Karun appeared visibly rattled. The physios began concussion protocol assessments while the Indian batter attempted to settle his nerves, managing a composed smile to assure his teammates and the crowd.
The blow, however, clearly left an impact and disrupted his rhythm at the crease.Carse capitalized on the moment, unsettling Karun further. Off the very next delivery, Karun edged the ball, which flew past the slips for an unconvincing boundary.
It was evident that Carse had made his mark mentally. Four overs later, he finally dismissed Karun with a perfectly pitched fuller delivery outside the off stump. Karun went for a loose drive and only managed to nick it to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who made no mistake.
Social media lit up after the dismissal, with many initially concerned about the blow to Karun’s helmet. However, praise soon followed for Brydon Carse’s smart and persistent bowling strategy.
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His ability to mentally and technically outplay the batter turned the tide briefly in England’s favor, though India still remained in a commanding position heading into Day 4.