Karun Nair Returns to Team India After Eight Years: A Journey of Resilience
Karun Nair's Remarkable Comeback
London [UK], June 12: Indian cricketer Karun Nair is set to make a significant return to the national team after an eight-year hiatus. He expressed his excitement about being recalled to Team India, receiving heartfelt encouragement from his former Karnataka teammate and close friend, KL Rahul, who is also part of the squad for the upcoming series against England.
Nair is on the brink of his first Test appearance since 2017, as India seeks to transition smoothly from veteran players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin during a five-match Test series in England. He stands as only the second Indian cricketer to score a triple century, following the legendary Virender Sehwag.
His selection comes at a pivotal moment, following an outstanding domestic season. Nair concluded the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 with an impressive tally of 863 runs, averaging 53.93, which included four centuries and two fifties across 16 innings in nine matches. His highest score of 135 was achieved in the final, leading his team to victory. Additionally, during the unofficial Tests for India A against England Lions, he amassed 259 runs in three innings, featuring a double century.
A standout moment of his season was the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he emerged as the top scorer with 779 runs in nine matches, boasting an extraordinary average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04, including five centuries and a fifty, with a best score of 163*. His contributions were vital in his team's journey to the finals, where they faced defeat against his former team, Karnataka.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament, Nair scored 255 runs in six innings, averaging 42.50 with a strike rate of 177.08, including three half-centuries and a top score of 77, although his team was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Having last played a Test match for India in March 2017 against Australia, Nair's opportunities dwindled after his remarkable triple century against England in 2016. Overall, he has participated in six Tests, accumulating 374 runs in seven innings.
Reflecting on his return to the national team, Nair shared in a video posted on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) X handle, “It feels incredibly special, and I am very grateful for this opportunity. I am eager to seize this chance and am sure it will evoke many emotions that I can't fully articulate right now. It will be a memorable experience.”
KL Rahul, who has known Nair for years, acknowledged the challenges Nair faced while playing county cricket in the UK. He remarked, “The time he spent in the UK, enduring the grind of county cricket, was tough and lonely. His ability to overcome those challenges and return to the team is a significant achievement for him, his family, and friends who have witnessed his journey. We hope that his experiences from county cricket will benefit him in the Test matches ahead.”
Nair played for Northamptonshire in the County Championship during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, scoring 736 runs in 10 matches and 14 innings at an average of 56.61, including two centuries and four fifties, with a best score of 202*.
The Test series is scheduled from June to August 2025, with matches taking place at Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord's and The Oval in London, and Old Trafford in Manchester.
India's Test squad for the England series includes: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.