Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said in-form Vidarbha batter Karun Nair should have been picked as a standby in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad as well. However, Harbhajan commented that while the think tank has been stressing the importance of domestic performances, they also need to be rewarded as well. Notably, Nair had a stunning show in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. In eight innings in the List A tournament, he smashed 779 runs at an average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04, with five hundreds as well.

On his YouTube channel, Harbhajan Singh said: “While Nair had a superb Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, he was dismissed
for 27 in the final on Saturday. Karnataka went on to beat Vidarbha by 36 runs to be crowned champions. What is the importance of Ranji Trophy (domestic cricket)? When an international player is not in form, you drop him and tell him to play Ranji Trophy and prove his form. But the ones who are doing well, you are not watching their performance.”

“Karun Nair should have been picked as a standby. If needed, he could have been called up. It not needed, at least he would have been in the mix. It’s high time you get him back in the system and give him confidence so that he can work even harder,” Harbhajan Singh concluded.