After eight years, Karun Nair returned to India’s scheme of things. After scoring a triple century against England in 2017, Karun Nair was dropped from the playing XI and hasn’t been considered for selection again. In the last few years, he worked hard in the domestic circuit, scoring plenty of runs and that forced the selectors to pick him for the upcoming five-match Test series against England.
Ahead of that, Karun Nair featured in India A’s clash against England Lions in Canterbury and scored an impressive double century. The visitors were put on the back foot with the wickets of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Yashasvi Jaiswal but Karun Nair and Sarfaraz Khan played to their merit and stitched a partnership of 181 runs. After Sarfaraz departed for 92 runs, Karun Nair and Dhruv Jurel took over and put India in a comfortable position.
33-year-old Karun Nair brought up his double-century on the second day of India A’s first unofficial Test against the England Lions. Karun Nair has made the most of his return to the India A team and will now be looking to punish the English bowling attack even further as the play continues.
Karun Nair’s journey from domestic cricket to international
On Day 2, Jurel departed after scoring 94 runs. However, Karun managed to keep the scoreboard ticking and completed his double century. With that, the Jodhpur-born pushed a strong case to cement his place in the playing XI in the five-match series. Meanwhile, even on a personal level, the double ton might give immense relief to Karun, who was seeking an opportunity to return to India colours.
In 2022, he tweeted, ‘Dear cricket, give me one more chance’, and since then, he hasn’t looked back and scored plenty of runs for Vidarbha. Despite so, a call to the national team wasn’t in the cards. The 33-year-old was expected to travel with the squad for the Australia series, but the selectors didn’t back him. However, after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from the longest format, the selectors wanted to add more experience in the middle order and hence, called up Karun Nair .
Kevin Pietersen impressed with Karun Nair & KL Rahul
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen, who mentored Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, is mighty impressed with Karun Nair and KL Rahul ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Pietersen, who worked with both these batters at close quarters in the T20 competition, lauded the way both are preparing for the upcoming series, beginning June 20.
Karun Nair vindicated the selectors’ call to include him in the main squad as he hit a century in the ongoing first unofficial Test between India A and England Lions in Canterbury. The right-handed batter, 33, made full use of some below-par bowling on a green surface, which offered some initial assistance for the pacers.
Karun Nair remained unbeaten on 186 on Day 1 of the first unofficial Test as he made a strong case for his inclusion in the playing XI for the first match of the five-Test series against England in Headingley. The right-hander was involved in an 181-run stand for the third wicket with Sarfaraz Khan. The latter missed out on a well-deserved century, but Karun piled the misery, and he found support in Dhruv Jurel.
Karun Nair made 204 off 281 deliveries (26×4 1×6) as India A continued their strong march after resuming from the overnight 409/3. Karun Nair was involved in an 181-run partnership for the third wicket with Sarfaraz Khan and a 195-run stand with Dhruv Jurel.
KL Rahul to leave for the UK on Monday
According to a report in the Times of India, KL Rahul will leave for the UK on Monday after being granted permission by the BCCI. Rahul was originally slated to leave alongside the rest of the Indian team on June 6. However, he decided to play the second India A Test against the England Lions after rain spoilt his preparation in Mumbai.
KL Rahul had also played for India A before the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The opening batter will now be required to shoulder the responsibility of the batting order after the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. KL Rahul was one of India’s best batters in the series against Australia, which India lost 1-3.
Pietersen labelled Nair and Rahul as “two gems” of Indian cricket as he appreciated their efforts to prepare for the England tour.
Karun gets a 100 yesterday and KL has asked BCCI to travel early to UK to get extra practice in before Tests – 2 gems! 🩵
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) May 31, 2025
India will be led by Shubman Gill against England while Rishabh Pant will serve as his deputy.Team India’s tour of England begins with the series opener in Headingley, Leeds on June 20. The five-match series officially kicks off the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle
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