Karun Nair Makes Emotional Comeback To Indian Check Crew After 8 Years, Backed By KL Rahul Forward Of England Collection

Indian batter Karun Nair, who’s making his return to the nationwide facet after eight years, opened up on his recall to the Crew India and in addition acquired a particular message from his ex-Karnataka teammate and shut pal, KL Rahul, who will even part of the Indian squad for England collection together with him. Nair might get his first Check look in eight years, as India goals for a easy transition from seniors like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin throughout a five-match Check collection in opposition to England away from dwelling. Nair is the one second triple centurion in Indian cricket after legendary opener Virender Sehwag.

Nair’s inclusion comes at a transitional part on the again of a dream home season final yr. The dream season for Vidarbha star concluded with the 863-run season in Ranji Trophy 2024-25, with a median of 53.93, 4 centuries and two fifties in 16 innings throughout 9 matches. His greatest rating of 135 got here within the closing and his workforce emerged victorious. Through the warm-up unofficial Assessments for India A in opposition to England Lions, he scored 259 runs in three innings, together with a double ton.

An enormous spotlight of his season was the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day event, the place he top-scored with 779 runs in 9 matches and eight innings at a surprising common of 389.50 and a strike price of 124.04, with 5 centuries and a fifty and greatest rating of 163*.He performed a large function in his workforce’s run to the finals, the place they misplaced to his former workforce, Karnataka.

Within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 competitors, Nair made 255 runs in six innings, averaging 42.50 at a strike price of 177.08, with three half-centuries and the perfect rating of 77. His workforce was knocked out within the quarterfinals.

Nair had final performed a Check for India in March 2017 in opposition to Australia and didn’t get any possibilities as his kind tapered off after a triple ton in opposition to England at Chennai in 2016. He has performed six Assessments general, having made 374 runs in seven innings.

Talking about his return to the nationwide set-up, Nair mentioned in a video posted on Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) X deal with, “Feels very particular, very grateful, very lucky to have the ability to get this chance once more. Actually trying ahead to grabbing this chance with each arms. I’m certain there will likely be quite a lot of emotions, ones I can not specific proper now. Will probably be a particular feeling.”

KL mentioned that he has identified Nair for a very long time and is nicely conscious of his time in UK, grinding it out in county cricket.

“I’ve identified him for a really very long time and the months that he spent right here within the UK taking part in cricket and the way laborious and the way lonely it was and for him to have the ability to do all of that and are available again into the Indian workforce. suppose it is particular for him, for his household, and for pals like us who’ve seen his journey. So, like I mentioned very inspiring as nicely and hopefully his expertise and his learnings from taking part in county cricket right here will maintain him in good stead when he performs the Check matches right here,” mentioned Rahul.

Nair represented Northamptonshire in County Championship in 2023 and 2024 seasons, scoring 736 runs in 10 matches and 14 innings at a median of 56.61, with two centuries and 4 fifties and greatest rating of 202*.

The collection will likely be held from June to August 2025, with matches scheduled at Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s and The Oval in London, and Outdated Trafford in Manchester.

India’s Check squad for England collection: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.