In December 2022, after being dropped from Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy squad for the primary time since his debut in 2013-14, Karun Nair let loose a fervent plea. “Dear cricket, give me one more chance,” he posted on X.
That public prayer was lastly answered by Indian cricket’s supreme gods on Saturday after they selected the 33-year-old for the upcoming five-Test collection towards England. Karun final performed for India in March 2017 (Australia, Dharamshala).
Sarfaraz Khan, who didn’t get a single sport throughout 5 Tests in Australia, might have been unfortunate to overlook out, however Karun has damaged the door open. After being snubbed by Karnataka, he moved to Vidarbha forward of the 2023-24 Ranji season, and located a second wind as a First Class batter.
In his first foray at his adopted dwelling, he scored 690 runs in Vidarbha’s run to the Ranji Trophy closing. Last version, he went one step additional, smashing 863 runs as Vidarbha received the title.
In 2023 and 2024, he additionally performed County cricket in England for Northamptonshire, averaging 83 from three matches (249 runs) and 48.70 from seven outings (487 runs) respectively.
“We feel that he’s batting well enough,” chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar mentioned.
“Also, now with Virat [Kohli] not there, [we are] clearly lacking a little bit of experience in the batting.”
The choice for the England tour marks a life-has-come-a-full-circle second for Karun. It was towards England that he made his Test debut in 2016 in Mohali, and scored a triple hundred in Chennai towards Alastair Cook’s males.
But he suffered the ignominy of being not chosen for the very subsequent sport, and through the 2018 sojourn to England, noticed Hanuma Vihari leap-frog him and make his debut.
These two recollections, together with exit from Karnataka, harm him, but in addition drove him.
With the newest reward, he can provide all of them a quiet burial and march ahead with confidence.
Published – May 24, 2025 10:21 pm IST
