His prolific run with the bat also earned him a recall to the Indian Test squad after an eight-year hiatus, reviving hopes of a second wind in his international career. Nair’s red-hot form was not limited to the longer format either. He produced a historic performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 779 runs including five consecutive centuries
Karun Nair attends a practice session (Pic: AFP)
Karun Nair is set to rejoin his home side Karnataka ahead of the upcoming domestic season, marking a return after a gap of three years. The 33-year-old’s move comes shortly after the Vidarbha Cricket Association granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), clearing the path for his homecoming.
Nair enjoyed a standout season with Vidarbha in 2024-25, emerging as one of the key architects of their winning campaign. He amassed 863 runs at an impressive average of 53, including a crucial century in the final against Kerala.
"It's tough to see him go as he was a big part of our team in the last couple of seasons. But it's his decision and we respect that and NOC was given. Hopefully, he will do well in the future seasons," a VCA official told PTI.
His prolific run with the bat also earned him a recall to the Indian Test squad after an eight-year hiatus, reviving hopes of a second wind in his international career. Nair’s red-hot form was not limited to the longer format either. He produced a historic performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 779 runs including five consecutive centuries, that played a major role in drawing the selectors’ attention.
Adding to his list of achievements, Nair set a new List A record by scoring 542 runs without being dismissed, showcasing his consistency and ability to anchor innings. However, his return to the national fold has not translated into immediate success. In the ongoing Test series in England, Nair has managed scores of 0, 20, 31, 26, 40, and 14 across the first three matches.
Back in the Karnataka set-up, Nair is expected to bring invaluable experience to a relatively young batting unit. Alongside senior batter Mayank Agarwal, his presence is likely to steady the middle order. However, he will have to earn his place amid stiff competition from emerging talents such as R Smaran, KL Shrijith, and KV Aneesh, all of whom have made notable progress in recent seasons.
Karnataka, meanwhile, will be without pacer Vasuki Koushik this season. The right-arm seamer has secured an NOC from the state association and is set to represent Goa in the forthcoming domestic calendar. Koushik’s departure will leave a void in the pace department, and Karnataka will be keen to find a suitable replacement ahead of what promises to be a tightly contested season.
(With PTI inputs)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
