Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh lashed out at the BCCI for Karun Nair’s continued exclusion from Team India across formats. He has been in sublime form in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 664 runs and being dismissed only once in six innings. However, Nair has scored four consecutive centuries and five in his last six innings in the tournament so far. He has played six Tests and two ODIs for India between 2016 and 2017 as well.

Talking about Karun Nair on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan said [Via Hindustan Times]: “I’m looking at his stats. In 2024-25, he played six innings, remained not out in 5, scoring 664 and that was his average. And he’s played at a strike rate of 120. And they don’t pick him. It’s unfair. Different rules for different people… that shouldn’t be the way. When they are scoring runs, you need to play him, right? He doesn’t have tattoos, doesn’t wear fancy clothes, is that the reason you’re not picking him? Does he not work hard?”
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Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh also questioned the different selection parameters for the national side and domestic team as well. His Vijay Hazare Trophy heroics aside, Nair also showed great form in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) with 255 runs at an
average of 42 and a strike rate of 177.08 in six outings as well.

“Many are selected on the basis of just two games, some are just selected basis the IPL. So, why are rules different for him? People say Rohit and Virat are out of form, and you’re sending them to Ranji. But those who are playing Ranji and scoring runs… why are you ignoring them? When will these guys play? They are scoring runs here,” said Harbhajan Singh.
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“I never understood how he was dropped after a triple century. It pains me that no one talks about players like him. He went to England with the team but didn’t get a game. For the fifth Test, they actually flew a player from India, I think it was Hanuma Vihari, and he played the Test instead of Nair. Give me the reason for this. Does it make sense?,” he concluded.