Karun Nair’s comeback to the Indian Test side after eight long years didn’t go as planned. Featuring in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England earlier this year, the right-hander managed just one half-century across eight innings in four matches. His modest returns led to his omission from India’s squad for the home Test series against the West Indies and later from the India A team for the four-day games against South Africa A.
The decision to drop Karun after just one series has sparked debate among cricketing circles. Many experts and former players have expressed disappointment, arguing that the 33-year-old deserved a longer run to prove himself. Among them is former India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who voiced his support for Nair’s inclusion.
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“Karun Nair has performed consistently in domestic cricket, helped his team win matches, and was rightly rewarded with a Test recall. But I think he should have been given one more opportunity,” Ajinkya Rahane said in a video shared on X. “Similarly, Abhimanyu Easwaran has also been scoring runs consistently with a strong average. I’m sure his chance will come soon.”
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) October 28, 2025
Cheteshwar Pujara, who was part of the same discussion, echoed Ajinkya Rahane’s sentiments. He emphasised that domestic performances should remain the primary benchmark for national selection. “When players do well in domestic cricket, they should be rewarded. It motivates them and strengthens the competition. The Test team’s selection must always be based purely on domestic performances,” Pujara remarked.
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With both Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara—two seasoned Test specialists—backing Nair, the debate around selection consistency has reignited. Many believe that patience and continuity are vital, especially in red-ball cricket, where form and rhythm often take time to return. Whether the selectors revisit Karun Nair’s case remains to be seen, but his domestic record continues to speak for itself.
