Is Karun Nair Ready to Shine on the England Tour?

New Delhi, June 12 (NationPress) Indian cricketer Karun Nair is thrilled to return to the red-ball squad after an eight-year gap, eager to seize the opportunity in the upcoming five-match Test series against England kicking off on June 20.

Nair is in exceptional form, having scored a double century against the England Lions in the first unofficial Test held in Canterbury. He also participated in the recently concluded IPL 2025 season, playing eight matches for Delhi Capitals and amassing 198 runs, including a half-century.

The 33-year-old made his Test debut against England in Mohali in 2016, where he impressively scored an unbeaten 303 in his third Test in Chennai, drawing significant attention. However, post that monumental innings, he played only three home Tests against Australia in 2017 before being dropped due to a series of disappointing scores.

Despite the setbacks, the right-handed batter never gave up hope of returning to the national team. After relocating from Karnataka to Vidarbha in 2023, he scored 690 runs in 10 matches and followed it up with 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy games in 2024, including four centuries, one of which came in the finals, leading Vidarbha to the championship.

Nair demonstrated his power-hitting capabilities during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he accumulated 779 runs in just eight innings, including five centuries. This performance earned him a spot in the IPL 2024 mega auction, where he was acquired by the Delhi Capitals for Rs 50 lakh.

"This feels incredibly special, and I am very grateful and fortunate to have this opportunity again. I am genuinely looking forward and excited to embrace this chance with both hands," Nair expressed in a video shared by BCCI on social media.

"I can’t quite describe the feelings yet; I need to experience it for myself. I am sure there will be many emotions, ones I can't articulate now, and it will be a memorable experience," he added.

During the pre-training huddle, head coach Gautam Gambhir commended Nair's return to the Test side after eight years, stating, "Comebacks are never easy. A player returning after such a long time, especially after a phenomenal last year, is truly inspiring. Your never-give-up attitude has brought you back into the team. Welcome, Karun."

With the recent retirements of stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Nair is likely to get a chance in the middle order, leveraging his experience from playing county cricket with Northamptonshire, where he scored 487 runs in seven matches at an average of 48.70, including a double century.

Nair's former Karnataka teammate, seasoned batter KL Rahul, expressed joy over Nair's return to the Indian setup, saying, "Having known him for a long time, I understand the challenges he faced in the UK playing cricket. His journey back to the Indian team is special for him, his family, and friends who have witnessed his progress. It’s inspiring, and I hope that his experiences from county cricket will benefit him in the forthcoming Test matches."

The critical Test series against England will run from June 20 to August 4, with venues including Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval. India aims to clinch a Test series win in England for the first time since 2007.