Karun Nair, who famously scored a triple century in the fifth Test against England in 2016, has faced challenges in maintaining consistent performances with the national team since then. Following that historic innings, Nair managed only 71 runs in his next six innings for India.
Reflecting on his journey since that landmark innings, Nair has previously stated, “It is difficult, but I haven’t pursued any discussions about it. We haven’t had any conversation about my return.” At that time, he focused on contributing to Karnataka rather than fixating on his national team aspirations, saying, “My main focus is on performing well here, and whatever happens with the national team is beyond my control.”
Despite limited opportunities, Nair remains optimistic about his future in Test cricket. In a recent interview with ESPN Cricinfo, he expressed his enduring ambition: “Every morning, it’s exciting to dream about finding a way back into Test cricket. That keeps me motivated. I feel like I’m batting as well as I ever have. I am in a good mental space, and understand my game well. I’m focused on making the most of any opportunities that come my way to climb back up.”
Nair has shown impressive form in domestic cricket, scoring 690 runs for Vidarbha during the 2023/24 Ranji season, though the team lost in the final to Mumbai. Reflecting on his career, he noted, “They say a player peaks at 30-31, and I’d like to believe that’s true in my case. The last year has been positive, and after a good performance in last year’s Maharaja T20, I’ve had a strong domestic season.”