Vidarbha skipper Karun Nair is enjoying a remarkable resurgence in the domestic circuit, particularly in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. The 33-year-old has been in sublime form, smashing five centuries and maintaining an impressive average of 664. These performances have sent a strong message to the selectors, potentially reigniting his chances for a national comeback after being overlooked since 2022.
Nair’s career has been a rollercoaster of highs and heartbreaks. Despite being only the second Indian batter to score a triple century in Test cricket, he was dropped from the national team after just six matches. In 2022, he faced another major setback when he was dropped from the Karnataka side, a moment he described as one of the darkest periods of his career.
Reflecting on his journey, Nair opened up about overcoming adversity and finding success again in domestic cricket.
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“Honestly, I’m very fortunate to be batting the way I am right now. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to become someone who can play all around the wicket and adapt to all conditions,” Karun Nair said in a video shared by BCCI Domestic. “My mindset has shifted to finishing games for my team. Whenever I’m set, I now aim to go all the way and make the most of the innings.”
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐚-𝐑𝐔𝐍 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 ⚙️⚙️
Tough times 🤝 family support 🤝 hard work 🤝 success
Vidarbha captain Karun Nair tells a tale – 👍 👍 By @jigsactin#VijayHazareTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @karun126 pic.twitter.com/zmDqWzb69Y
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 16, 2025
Karun Nair credited his turnaround to learning from challenging times. “The toughest phase for me was the end of 2022 when I lost my place in the Karnataka team. Mentally and emotionally, it was very challenging. Those months taught me to respect every day and every innings. Now, I focus on giving my all and scoring as many runs as possible in every game,” he added.
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Nair’s next challenge is the Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-finals, where Vidarbha will face Maharashtra. As captain, he will be determined to maintain Vidarbha’s unbeaten streak and lead them to their maiden VHT title, cementing his remarkable comeback in Indian domestic cricket.
