Karun Nair has been the talk of the town over the last 6 months or so, because of unseen batting numbers in the Indian domestic circuit, across the List A, First Class, as well as T20 formats. He’s been knocking the door of selectors for a long time now, and narrowly missed making the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy squad as well.
He last played a Test for India in March 2017, against the Australians in Dharamshala. This makes his recent selection in the Indian Test squad, announced 24th May 24 2025, for the upcoming 5-match series against England starting 20th June, a remarkable comeback after an absence of over eight years. His return to the national setup is a testament to his perseverance, striving to get another chance in Indian cricket.
When was Karun Nair’s last Test?
Nair’s name was etched into Indian cricket history when he become only the second Indian batter after Virender Sehwag to register a triple century in the longest format of cricket for India. His 303* against England in Chennai came in December 2016 but despite this incredible milestone, his Test career was brief thereafter, finding himself out of the national setup by 2017.
This year, he even returned to the Indian Premier League after a long absence, and marked his comeback with a fifty in his first game, and ended the season for Delhi Capitals with 44 in their last league game. The day of that last IPL 2025 game also marked his selection to the Indian side in whites, giving himself a chance to play a Test match after 8 years and 3 months.
The journey back to the Indian Test side has been a tedious one for Nair, made possible due to consistent performances in the domestic circuit. His exceptional form in the Ranji Trophy was a key factor, amassing 863 runs in 9 matches at an impressive average of 54 for Vidarbha in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, playing a crucial role in their third Ranji Trophy victory.
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He also had a successful season in the English County Championship in 2024, with 487 runs in 7 matches, including a double century to his name. These strong showings in red-ball cricket have evidently caught the selectors’ attention, especially the fact that he’s shown the ability to play in English conditions, where some legendary cricketers have failed to impress.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited the need for experienced middle-order batsmen, particularly after recent retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as a reason for Nair’s inclusion. His previous Test experience and recent county cricket exposure were also highlighted as beneficial. He is likely to join a list of 9 Indian cricketers who had a gap of 8+ years between two Tests.
Many Congratulations to Sai Sudarshan, Arshdeep Singh, Karun Nair for being selected for the ultimate format and the challenging English summer. Congratulations to Shubman Gill for being appointed as Indian test captain. But surely team India is going to miss Mohammed Shami’s…
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 24, 2025
One notable example is Dinesh Karthik, who had a gap of 8 years and 144 days between his 23rd Test in January 2010 and his 24th Test in June 2018. Parthiv Patel also held a similar record, missing 83 Tests between two appearances. These instances underscore the immense competition and the challenges players face in consistently holding a spot in the Indian Test squad. More recently, Jaydev Unadkat played a Test after 12 long years since his last one for India.
Nair’s recall is a powerful message about the value of domestic performances and resilience. It signals a potential shift in India’s red-ball strategy, particularly as the team enters a transitional phase with the recent retirement of key players. But remember, he’s been selected int he squad and we’ll have to wait and see if he immediately fits into the first playing eleven.
FAQs on Karun Nair in Test cricket
Q. How many Tests did Karun Nair play?
Ans. Till date, Karun Nair played 6 Tests for India. In these six games, he scored 374 runs at an average of 62.33, with the highlight of his short career being a record 303* against England.
Q. Why was Karun Nair not selected?
Ans. After his triple century, Karun Nair’s subsequent performances in the few Tests he played were not as impactful, scoring only 71 runs in the remainder of his initial Test career. There wasn’t one single reason for his exclusion; it was a combination of factors including intense competition for middle-order spots and the team management’s decisions at the time. Selectors indicated that accommodating him was challenging due to the presence of other veterans.
Q. Which Indian cricketer scored 300 in Test?
Ans. Only two Indian cricketers have scored a triple century in Test cricket: Virender Sehwag and Karun Nair. Sehwag achieved this feat on two different occasions, with 309 vs Pakistan in 2004 and 319 vs South Africa in 2008. Nair on the other hand scored 303* against England in 2016.
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