NEW DELHI: Did India’s chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, effectively signal the end of Karun Nair’s international Test career on Thursday? The announcement of a 15-player squad for the two Test matches against West Indies conspicuously omitted Nair’s name, delivering a harsh blow to the seasoned batter.
For years, Nair harbored a quiet plea: “Dear cricket, give me one more chance.” That long-awaited opportunity did indeed arrive when he was included in India’s squad for the challenging England tour. Little did Karun know that this chance, which he had patiently awaited for over 3000 days, would culminate in such a painful anticlimax.
From his room in Karnataka, Karun, who had scored 205 runs across four Tests against England at an average of 25.62, watched anxiously for the squad selection news. When the disheartening announcement arrived from Dubai, his name was nowhere to be found.
“Yes, I did expect the selection,” Karun admitted in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com. His voice heavy with emotion, he added, “I don’t know what to say. No words. I don’t have many comments to make. It’s very difficult for me to answer.”
Prior to the England tour, Karun had made a compelling case for his inclusion through sheer performance. He was a powerhouse in the 2024–25 domestic season, amassing an impressive 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy matches, including four centuries, and 779 runs in eight Vijay Hazare Trophy innings, featuring five hundreds.
Despite this phenomenal domestic form, his initial struggles on the England tour saw him dropped for the fourth Test after failing to convert starts into significant scores in the first three. However, a glimmer of hope appeared when he was reinstated for the fifth and final Test at The Oval.
There, Nair delivered a crucial knock, scoring 57 runs off 109 balls. It was the highest individual score in India’s first innings, helping the team reach a respectable total of 224, a performance that ultimately contributed to India’s thrilling six-run victory.
“You should probably ask the selectors what they’re thinking,” a visibly dejected Karun stated. “The only thing is, in the last Test match, I scored a 50 when no one else managed to in the first innings. So, yeah, I thought I contributed to the team, especially in the last game that we won. But yeah, it is what it is. Those things don’t matter, it seems.”
When questioned about Nair’s exclusion, chief selector Agarkar offered a terse explanation, suggesting the selection committee had higher expectations. “We expected more from Karun Nair in England. It cannot be about just one innings. Yeah, frankly, we expected a bit more from Karun on the England trip,” Agarkar commented.
Now, at 33, Karun finds himself back at square one, returning to domestic cricket. This time, however, the uncertainty of another international comeback looms large over his thoughts.
“There’s nothing much I can say. There’s nothing much that I can do to change anything. So, yeah, I just have to keep going. At least from my point of view, not from others’ point of view. In my head, I’m very clear. I did my best, they have made the decision and you have to respect that,” he concluded, adding simply, “Now I’m just going to play Ranji Trophy.”