Karun Nair is the second Indian cricketer, after Virender Sehwag, to score a triple century in Test cricket. Nair made a big impact early in his career, especially when he scored an unbeaten 303 against England in the Chennai Test in 2016. This remarkable performance made him one of the rising stars of Indian cricket. However, after playing only 7 Test matches, Karun was dropped from the Indian team. He last played for India in a Test match in 2017 and has been out of the team since then. Despite this, Karun Nair has not given up on his dream of making a comeback in Test cricket.
In an interview with ESPN, Karun Nair expressed hope that he would once again play Test cricket for India. He mentioned that the dream of returning to Test cricket keeps him motivated. Karun said, “They say a player reaches their peak at the age of 30-31. I would like to believe that’s true in my case. The last year has been good. After the Maharaja T20 last year, my domestic season was quite good. I am just making sure that if I get opportunities, wherever they may be, I make the most of them.”
Karun continued, “I spent a year at home, waiting for opportunities, and when nothing worked out, I asked myself what I could do. So when I got the chance, it felt good to contribute again. The tough years have helped me push myself further. For me, the most important game is the one I am playing right now, whether it’s a league game or a domestic match. I have learned not to look too far ahead.”
Reflecting on his struggles, Karun said, “It was tough, but pushing myself in those difficult times and working hard brought me a lot of satisfaction. There’s nothing more confidence-boosting than scoring runs on challenging pitches where the ball is doing everything.”
Karun Nair still dreams of playing Test cricket again. He said, “I feel like I’m batting better than ever. I’m in a good mental space, and I know where my game stands. I’m just focused on making the most of any opportunities that come my way, so I can climb back up the ladder. Waking up every morning and dreaming of playing Test cricket is still exciting. That’s what keeps me going. We missed out on the Ranji last year, and I’m trying to make up for it this year.”
Nair Shines with 48-Ball 124
Karun Nair recently played an impressive innings in the Maharaja T20 Trophy, where he scored 124 runs off just 48 balls for Mysore Warriors against Mangalore Dragons. His explosive batting, which included 3 fours and 9 sixes, has opened up opportunities for him to play in the IPL again. It will be interesting to see which IPL franchise picks him in the upcoming auction.