Vidarbha batsman Karun Nair answered to Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector for the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), when he was asked why, in spite of his incredible domestic cricket accomplishments, he was left out of India’s selection for the ICC Champions Trophy.
In just eight innings during the 2024–25 season, Nair amassed 779 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, demonstrating his enjoyment of scoring. Additionally, the batter has been instrumental in Vidarbha’s success in the Ranji Trophy 2025, helping them go to the tournament’s semifinals.
His return to the national squad during the Champions Trophy was eagerly anticipated by supporters following his stellar domestic cricket career. But the former cricket player from Karnataka was left off the list. According to Agarkar, he spoke with Nair prior to the ODI series against England. After being kept in the dark for a long time, Nair welcomed the statements and said that at least they gave him some clarification after he qualified for the Ranji semifinals.
It is really challenging to find a berth in our squad right now. Observe the men who were selected. On average, they are all considerably over the mid-40s. You can’t fit everyone in a squad of 15, unfortunately. But you do take notice of those performances. “There will undoubtedly be a discussion about a player if they lose their form or sustain injuries,” Agarkar had stated during the press conference.
It was nice to see that a clear statement was made, and I believe he made it very obvious what they were thinking. This helps the player understand where he needs to go and what he needs to do. At the moment, it’s just about winning the Ranji Trophy and concentrating on the next game, at least for me,” Nair told RevSportz in an interview.
The last 16 to 18 months have seen me bat in the same manner. I was lucky enough to be able to replicate what I was doing well over a sustained period of time. I’ve left everything exactly how it is. It only takes three or four years of persistent hard work, going through the same routine every day, and waking up every day with the same goal in mind: to play for your country. “So, I believe it’s all the three to four years of hard work or many more years of hard work that are coming into existence now,” Nair said.
Karun Nair last played for India in 2017
For the unversed, Karun Nair’s last appearance for India came in a Test match against Australia in March 2017. The 33-year-old said that he has been working hard every day with the goal of making a comeback to the Indian team.
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