Karun Nair, who last played for India in March 2017, has not lost hope for a Test cricket comeback. The 32-year-old, known for his phenomenal triple century in Test cricket, has continued showcasing his talent on the domestic circuit and in English county cricket. Notwithstanding all the challenges, Nair is intent on regaining his spot in the national team as his love for the game remains undying.
Meanwhile, Nair has been toiling away in the Ranji Trophy and the English county circuit, reminding people about his real abilities with the bat. In the first few months of 2023, he managed to score 249 runs in three games for Northamptonshire, averaging a healthy 83. The high point was a hundred against eventual champions Surrey. As the year wore on, there was no letting up from Nair as he scored 487 runs in seven matches at an average of 49, including another century against Glamorgan.
Nair maintains his focus is on continuing to perform well for his team and not looking too far ahead. The right-handed batter said playing in English conditions, which can get challenging at times, has helped him to understand his game better. “You got to prepare for the grind. It’s just about the next game. I am not looking that far ahead because sometimes you can get stuck thinking about what is going to happen,” Nair told India Today.
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Looking back at his time in England, Nair was quick to acknowledge that the moving ball was a challenge, but he indeed relished the experience for which he would thank himself. “Playing in England, with its moving ball, was tough. I have really learned a lot about myself as a batsman-finding ways to score runs and believing in myself, said.
Having struggled for a regular berth in the Karnataka team, Nair shifted to Vidarbha last season in search of better opportunities. The gamble clicked as he scored 690 runs in 10 matches, including two hundreds, becoming Vidarbha’s cynosure during its unfinished journey to the final. “The season I missed taught me to value each game more, to practice harder, to be smarter,” he said.
Karun Nair said, “my aim is to play Test cricket again for India. I’m confident in my ability and believe I can achieve it”. (PTI). pic.twitter.com/a6YDXoRbKg
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 28, 2024
Highs and lows have been in perfect combination for Nair in his cricketing career so far. Brilliant 303 against England in his third Test match, but he had played only three more Tests after that. The fact that it has been a long period of time since he last sported the India whites, Nair does not lack confidence for his comeback.
“Everybody plays this game for their country, and that is what I will try to do now: to go back and play Test cricket again. I have faith in my abilities, and I feel that I am capable of doing it, ” he said.
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Skipper Nair was leading the Mysuru Warriors in Maharaja Trophy 2024, and on this occasion, he has been brilliant, scoring 490 runs from 10 games. Under his leadership, the Warriors made it to the semifinals of the T20 competition and proved that he’s still a force to be reckoned with on the field.
