Karun Nair, who famously scored a triple century in the fifth Test against England in 2016, has struggled to maintain consistent performances in his subsequent opportunities with the national team. Following his landmark innings, Nair managed just 71 runs in his remaining six innings for India.
Reflecting on his time since that triple ton, Nair previously mentioned, “It is difficult, but I haven’t pursued any discussions about it. We haven’t had any conversation about my return.” At the time, he focused on contributing to Karnataka rather than his aspirations for the national team, saying, “My main focus is on performing well here, and whatever happens with the national team is beyond my control.”
Despite sporadic opportunities, Nair remains hopeful about his future in Test cricket. In a recent interview with ESPN Cricinfo, he shared 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 been in impressive form in domestic cricket, accumulating 690 runs for Vidarbha in the 2023/24 Ranji season, although 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.”