Karun Nair, who last played for India in 2017, expressed immense joy upon his return to the national team after an eight-year hiatus. The 33-year-old batter, known for being only the second Indian to score a triple century in Tests, was unexpectedly dropped from the squad soon after his historic feat.
Nair, speaking after his crucial role in Delhi Capitals’ six-wicket win over Punjab Kings in the IPL, said he had been “eagerly awaiting the call” and was overjoyed to be back.
“Grateful to get back, happy and proud and fortunate. I found out just like everyone else and got flooded with messages from near and dear ones,” he shared.
His return comes on the back of consistent performances across formats in domestic cricket over the last year.
Dominant Domestic Performances
Nair’s selection was fuelled by a prolific 2024-25 domestic season. He accumulated 863 runs in nine matches during the Ranji Trophy, including four centuries. Additionally, he was outstanding in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 779 runs in just eight innings with five centuries.
These standout performances played a major role in Vidarbha clinching the Ranji Trophy title and earned him a well-deserved recall to the national side.
Reflecting on his form, Nair noted, “I’ve been batting well over the last 12–16 months. It’s been about sticking to the same processes and doing what has worked for me.” His consistency and hunger for runs were key in reviving his international career.
Strong IPL Finish and Personal Growth
In Delhi Capitals’ final match of the season, Nair delivered a valuable 44-run knock off 27 balls, complementing young Samir Rizvi’s maiden IPL fifty. Though DC didn’t qualify for the playoffs, the win was a morale booster.
“Feels amazing, we truly deserve this. We weren’t at our best throughout, but tonight showed we’re a quality team that had some bad games,” he said.
Nair, who came into the tournament with strong form, credited his coaches for advising him to pace his innings better.
“I was playing too many shots too early. They told me to settle in first and then accelerate, which helped,” he added.
With his confidence high and form intact, Nair’s return could be a significant boost to India’s middle-order options.
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