Karun Nair is back in the Indian Test team for the five-match series against England, starting on June 20 in Leeds. He last played a Test match in 2017 against Australia. So far, he has played six Tests and scored 374 runs with an average of 67.
Karun Nair Returns to India’s Test Squad After Seven Years
Nair is one of only two Indian players, along with Virender Sehwag, to score a triple century in Test cricket. His comeback is special because he took a bold step by leaving Karnataka and joining Vidarbha, which gave a fresh boost to his career.
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After moving to Vidarbha in the 2023–24 season, he returned to form. In the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, he scored 863 runs in nine matches at an average of 54 and helped Vidarbha win their third title.
In his first season with Vidarbha, Karun Nair impressed by scoring 690 runs in 10 games. His strong domestic form helped him return to the IPL in 2025 with Delhi Capitals after three years. However, he scored only 198 runs in eight matches.
India A Call-Up Despite Modest IPL Season
Despite a quiet IPL, his Ranji Trophy performances earned him a spot in the India A team for the unofficial Tests against England Lions and in India’s 18-member squad for the England Test series. Once he was seen playing in England, rumors began that he might be leaving Vidarbha, the team that helped revive his career.
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DC batter Karun Nair is currently playing for India A in the first unofficial Test against the England Lions at St. Lawrence Ground in Canterbury. During the red-ball game, a Revsportz journalist posted on X that Nair might return to Karnataka next season.
He wrote: “Break – Very likely Karun Nair to return to Karnataka in the upcoming domestic year.”
Break -Very likely Karun Nair to return to Karnataka in the upcoming domestic year pic.twitter.com/p1UbqpLH5D
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) May 30, 2025
Reports say Karun Nair left the Karnataka team earlier because he wasn’t getting regular chances, especially in white-ball matches. He was also unhappy with the lack of clear communication from the selectors. Wanting more opportunities and a fresh start, he joined Vidarbha.
In the ongoing match, Karun Nair is batting at number three and has already scored a fifty. If he keeps up this form, he could make it into the India XI for the upcoming Test series against England.
As of now, India A is at 131/2 in 38 overs after being asked to bat first by England Lions on May 30.
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