Will Karun Nair Make a Triumphant Return to the Indian Test Squad?

New Delhi, May 24 (NationPress) "Dear cricket, grant me one more opportunity": On December 10, 2022, Karun Nair earnestly asked the cricketing deities for another chance to represent the Indian national team. After more than two years, he has finally been reintroduced into the Test squad, marking a significant moment after being absent for nearly 3000 days, and that too for India's challenging tour of England, a formidable test for any overseas batsman.

The 33-year-old batsman, however, has never been one to shy away from challenges.

With a journey that is truly unique, Nair made his Test debut in the third Test against England in Mohali in 2016, shortly after surviving a near-fatal incident in July 2016, when a snake boat capsized in the Pampa River, Kerala, during a temple festival.

Typically a top-order batsman, Nair was slotted in at No. 6 and struggled, finishing with scores of just 4 and 12 in his first two matches.

In a cricket-crazy nation like India, where countless players are clamoring for their shot, Nair understood he needed to make a comeback, and he did so in spectacular fashion.

After Moeen Ali’s 146 and Joe Root’s 88, which lifted England to 477 in their first innings of the fifth Test in Chennai, Nair came to bat with India at 211/3, following the quick dismissals of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.

Seizing the moment, he became the first player to turn his debut Test century into a triple hundred, finishing with an incredible 303*, showcasing his tenacity and stamina.

While every young batsman dreams of scoring a century for their nation, achieving a triple hundred is a rare feat. However, after a disappointing second series, where he scored 26, 0, 23, and 5 against Australia at home in March 2017, his place in the squad was in jeopardy, and signs of a comeback were dim.

In a cricketing powerhouse like India, with aspiring batsmen around every corner, Nair was left behind, as India surged under Virat Kohli, making his 303 a fading memory.

The harsh reality of cricket has led many promising players to pivot their careers, but Nair remained resolute, choosing to excel at the domestic level.

For the next four years, Nair fought valiantly for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy but remained outside the conversation for the national squad due to inconsistent performances.

It wasn't until 2023 that Nair sought to make a change, switching from Karnataka to Vidarbha. In his debut season with Vidarbha, he amassed 690 runs in 10 matches and followed it with 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy matches in 2024, including four centuries, one of which helped Vidarbha clinch the championship.

He also demonstrated his power-hitting capabilities in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 779 runs in just eight innings, including five centuries, which caught the attention of the Delhi Capitals, who drafted him for INR 50 lakh in the 2024 IPL Mega Auction.

Despite a lackluster season with the Capitals, where he spent the opening four games on the bench, Nair dazzled with a remarkable 89 off 40 balls.

His selection for the Indian squad for the England tour, possibly influenced by the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, is also a result of his stellar performance in the 2024 County Championship, where he scored 487 runs in seven matches at an average of 48.70, including a double century.

The crucial Test series against England is set from June 20 to August 4, with venues including Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval. India aims for their first Test series victory in England since 2007.