Karun Nair sends strong message to India selectors with unbeaten Ranji Trophy knock

Karun Nair showcased his batting acumen with an unbeaten 174 for Karnataka against Goa in the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 match at KSCA Navule Stadium in Shimoga. This performance follows his previous score of 73 in the first round.

The Karnataka batter stood firm while Arjun Tendulkar and Vasuki Koushik claimed three wickets each against his team. Nair reached his century on the first day and appeared poised for a double century on Day 2.

His pursuit of a double century was cut short when the last batter, Vidhwath Kaverappa, was run out. Karnataka managed to post a total of 371 runs.


The innings comes as a strong statement following Nair's recent exclusion from the Indian Test team. His performance indicates his continued determination to return to international cricket.

Nair had made his return to the Indian team in June after an eight-year absence, following an impressive showing in the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy season. His selection at No. 3 came after the retirement of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in May.

His recent international stint proved challenging, with 205 runs in four matches at an average of 25.62. Despite making promising starts, he struggled to convert them into substantial scores.

The 33-year-old was subsequently dropped from the Test squad for the West Indies home series. He was also not selected for the upcoming India A series against South Africa A, suggesting a shift in the selection committee's future plans.

"We expected more from Karun Nair in England. It cannot be about just one innings. Devdutt Padikkal offers more options to us. We want to give at least 15-20 chances to every player, but it is not possible every time," India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated at a recent press conference.

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