Karun Nair to rejoin Karnataka for next year's Ranji season

Dubai: Karun Nair had a stellar domestic season last year, playing a pivotal role in leading Vidarbha to the Ranji Trophy title. However, ahead of the upcoming season, Nair has made a high-profile switch back to Karnataka, securing a no-objection certificate from the Vidarbha Cricket Association.

The 33-year-old is currently part of India’s Test squad touring England. His national recall marked a remarkable comeback after an eight-year absence from the Test arena. Nair’s domestic form was instrumental in his return — in 16 innings, he amassed 863 runs at an average of 53.93, including four centuries. His standout performance came in the final against Kerala, where he notched a match-winning hundred.

Nair also lit up the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he captained Vidarbha to a runners-up finish. He was in record-breaking form, scoring 779 runs in just eight innings at a strike rate of 124.01, including five consecutive centuries. During that run, he set a new List A record by scoring 542 runs without being dismissed.

Despite his domestic heroics, Nair has struggled to replicate that success in the ongoing Test series in England. His scores so far — 0, 20, 31, 26, 40, and 14 — highlight his inconsistent form, even though he had started the tour on a high with a double century for India A against the England Lions in an unofficial Test.

Nair's return to Karnataka adds depth but also poses a selection dilemma. Emerging talents like R Smaran, KL Shrijith, and KV Aneesh had breakthrough performances in the 2024-25 season. Smaran topped Karnataka’s run charts with 516 runs in ten innings, while Shrijith marked his first-class debut with a century.

With Mayank Agarwal expected to retain the captaincy and Devdutt Padikkal likely to be a regular in the XI, the Karnataka think-tank will face the challenge of fitting in all their top-order options — now with Nair back in the mix.