Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has praised Karun Nair for his ‘outstanding’ performances in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. However, he also stated that the Vidarbha batter couldn’t have been picked in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad based on one performance in only one tournament as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “There is an ongoing crusade that Karun Nair should have been in the team. Since he has scored so many runs, he said he is not knocking at the door but just breaking it down. I saw somewhere where it was said that KL Rahul should be dropped. He has an average of 58 at Nos. 4 and 5. He played well in the World Cup.”
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“Someone said Shubman Gill should be dropped. It’s a joke going on that someone who has been performing consistently should be kicked out and someone else should be brought in. Karun Nair’s one-year Vijay Hazare performance has been outstanding. Such performances should definitely be noticed but are you going to pick someone based on one Vijay Hazare performance? Will it be right as it’s just one tournament?” Chopra again added.

In the same video, Aakash Chopra also opined on Karun Nair’s numbers in the last few seasons of the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well. He said that the veteran batter was ‘exceptional’ in Vidarbha’s run to the final this year as well.
“I tried to find out how his numbers have been. 2024-25 has been exceptional. He has scored 779 runs in nine matches at an average of 389.50, in which he has struck five centuries. He took the team to the final. However, how was his 2023-2024? He scored 230 runs in seven innings, which is okay. He has a good average of 46.00, as he remained not out twice. He wasn’t there at all in 2022-23 as he got dropped from Karnataka. He had almost left cricket but the family asked him to play by going to a different place and finding new pastures,” Aakash Chopra concluded.