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Karun Nair made his Test debut for India in November 2016 and had played six Test matches by March 2017, including scoring a triple century against England. He is only the second Indian batter to achieve this feat, following Virender Sehwag.
Despite his impressive batting record and a triple century, Nair has only played six Test matches for India. He has amassed a substantial number of runs in domestic cricket and even switched from Karnataka to Vidarbha, but these efforts have not led to a Test recall. Additionally, his sporadic appearances in the IPL have not helped his cause.
Though largely overlooked in international cricket now, Nair remains hopeful for a Test return. His last appearance was against Australia, and with India scheduled to play numerous Test matches in the coming months, he is optimistic about his chances. However, he faces stiff competition for a place in the XI from KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan, who have been performing well for the team.
In an exclusive interview with ESPNCricinfo, Karun Nair has shared his aspiration to return to Test cricket for India. At 32, he remains hopeful of rediscovering his form and making a comeback in his thirties.
“They say a player peaks at 30-31, I would like to believe that’s true in my case. The last one year has been good. After last year’s Maharaja T20, I had a pretty good domestic season,” Nair told ESPNcricinfo.
Karun Nair enjoyed a strong performance with Vidarbha, amassing 690 runs during the 2023-24 Ranji season. Although Vidarbha lost the final to Mumbai, Nair made significant contributions, including a standout innings of 95 off 52 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which helped Vidarbha achieve their highest-ever successful chase against Bengal. He also notched up a century and a half-century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, finishing with 230 runs in seven innings at an average of 46.00.
In addition to his domestic success, Nair had a stint with Northamptonshire in England, where he accumulated 487 runs in 11 innings across seven championship matches from April to May this year, including an unbeaten double century.
Since his return, Karun Nair has been working diligently to regain his full batting rhythm after a brief hiatus. Although he was not selected for the Duleep Trophy, he remains focused on trusting the techniques that have helped him return to form. With a busy season of home Test cricket ahead for India, Nair is determined to stay committed and is hopeful for a chance to make a comeback to the Indian team.
“I feel like I’m batting as well as I’ve ever done. I am in a good head space, I know where my game is. I am just making sure if I get opportunities, wherever it may be, the focus is on making the most of those chances so that I can climb up the stairs again. It’s still exciting to wake up each morning and dream of finding a way back to play Test cricket. That keeps me going. I would love to win trophies; we missed out in the Ranji last year. I will try to correct it this year,” said Karun Nair.
