Back in the Indian team after eight years, star India batter Karun Nair on Saturday expressed his happiness and said that he was “awaiting this call” after smashing big runs in the 2024-25 domestic season. Having last played in 2017, Nair was dropped from the Indian team soon after becoming the second triple centurion in Tests for India.

“Grateful to get back, happy and proud and fortunate. Found out like all of you found out (about his selection). Was eagerly awaiting the call, got a lot of messages from close ones,” Nair said after playing a key role in Delhi Capitals’ six-wicket win over Punjab Kings in the IPL here.

In the Ranji Trophy, he scored 863 runs in nine matches with four centuries, while in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he smashed 779 runs in just eight innings, including five centuries as well. He was also instrumental in Vidarbha winning the Ranji Trophy in the 2024-25 season as well.

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“Really happy and proud. Have been batting well in the last 12-16 months. It’s about keeping my processes the same and do the same things that have worked for me,” Nair said.

Speaking about Saturday’s win, which helped Delhi Capitals finish the season on a high note after failing to qualify for the play-offs, Nair said that the result showed that they were a good team as well.

“Feels amazing, we truly deserve this. Haven’t been at our best. But tonight shows we’re a good team that had bad games. I’ve been hitting the ball really well, came into the tournament with a lot of runs. Confidence was high. I was playing too many shots too early, coaches told me to take my time and then go big,” Karun Nair concluded.