Karun Nair, the talented Indian batter who famously scored a triple century in Test cricket, has made a remarkable return to the Indian Test squad after nearly eight years. The 33-year-old right-hander has opened up about a difficult phase in his career, where he was advised by a “prominent Indian cricketer” to consider retirement and focus on lucrative opportunities in T20 leagues around the world.
A Comeback Against the Odds
Nair last played a Test match for India in 2017, but never gave up hope of donning the whites again. Over the last few years, he has delivered consistent performances in domestic red-ball cricket. Since 2022, he has amassed 2,839 runs in 34 first-class matches at an impressive average of 53.57, including 10 centuries and 10 fifties.
Despite being sidelined from the national setup for years, Nair refused to walk away from his dream. In a candid interview with Mail Sport, he revealed, “I still remember a prominent Indian cricketer calling me and saying that I should retire, because the money in these leagues would make me secure. It would have been easy to take that route, but I knew that regardless of the money, I would be kicking myself for giving up so easily.”
Nair added, “I was never going to give up on playing for India again. That was just over two years ago—and look where we are now. It’s crazy, but deep down, I always knew I was good enough.”
Eyes on the Present, Not the Future
Karun Nair has been included in India’s squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting June 20. He has played six Test matches for India, scoring 374 runs, including a career-defining unbeaten 303 against England in 2016—a feat that made him only the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple century in Test cricket.
Despite his comeback, Nair remains grounded and focused on the moment. “I manifested playing for India. There was a domestic game last year where they played the national anthem and we were standing in a line. I got that feeling of ‘Oh, I need this to happen again’—just picturing myself in Indian whites,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter how many more matches I get to play for India. I just want to enjoy it now, because I didn’t make the most of it before.”
Nair’s story is one of perseverance, belief, and redemption. As he prepares to wear the Indian jersey again, fans will be eager to see if this second chapter can be as memorable as the first.
