The curious case of forgotten Indian cricketer Karun Nair

Dubai: From the ecstasy of a record-breaking triple century to the agony of obscurity, Karun Nair’s cricketing journey has been nothing short of dramatic. Once hailed as India’s next middle-order star, Nair’s career nosedived after a string of low scores — only to resurface now with a vengeance, wielding his bat like a man on a mission.”

At 33, the forgotten triple-centurion has forced his way back into the spotlight. Leading Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Nair has been in imperious form, smashing five centuries in six innings and amassing 752 runs at an eye-popping average of 752. The message to selectors is loud and clear: Karun Nair is ready for redemption.

Karun’s career has been anything but ordinary. The Indian middle-order batter could not have asked for a better Test debut, scoring an unbeaten 303 in just his third match against England in Chennai in 2016. He became only the second Indian to achieve this feat, joining an elite list of just 28 batters in Test cricket history who have crossed the 300-run mark.

However, the fairytale start soon turned into a nightmare. Karun managed just 71 runs across his next four innings, with a highest score of 26. Despite his historic triple century, he was dropped from the national side, and his career spiralled downward. By 2022, he had lost his spot in Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy team and went unsold in the 2025 IPL mega auction in Saudi Arabia.

The turning point came when Karun joined Vidarbha in 2023. Determined to revive his career, he worked tirelessly to hone his skills and change his approach to batting. His efforts paid off spectacularly in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where his captaincy and batting heroics propelled Vidarbha to the final. His unbeaten 88 against Maharashtra in the semi-final on Thursday underscored his determination to finish games for his team.

Reflecting on his journey, Karun said, “Quite honestly, I’m very fortunate to be able to bat the way I am just now. I believe I’ve been someone who can play all around the wicket and in all kinds of conditions, so it’s been years of hard work and practice. The way my mindset has changed is to finish the game off for the team and make the most of every innings.”

Karun’s resurgence comes at a time when the Indian team is struggling, having suffered recent series losses to New Zealand and Australia. Key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are underperforming, and newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir has emphasised the importance of domestic cricket in rebuilding the squad.

“Everyone should play domestic cricket,” Gambhir said after the 3-1 series loss to Australia. “If you don’t give domestic cricket its due, you won’t find the players you need.”

With the BCCI introducing a 10-point policy that includes mandatory domestic participation and stricter discipline, calls are growing louder for Karun’s inclusion in India’s Champions Trophy squad. Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is among his staunchest supporters.

“Many are selected based on just two games or the IPL. Why are the rules different for him?” Harbhajan asked. “It’s unfair. I never understood how he was dropped after a triple century. It pains me that no one talks about players like him.”

Now, the stars seem aligned for Karun Nair to cement his redemption story. Vidarbha will face his former state, Karnataka, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final — a match brimming with personal stakes and emotional significance.

For Karun Nair, this isn’t just a final; it’s a reckoning. With a bat in hand and a point to prove, he stands on the brink of the ultimate payback, poised to remind the cricketing world of what it forgot too soon.