Star Indian batter Karun Nair is set to make a highly anticipated return to the Karnataka cricket team after a two-season absence. He has been named in the state squad for their Ranji Trophy opener against Saurashtra, which kicks off in Rajkot on October 15.
Nair, who recently missed out on a spot in the Indian team for the home series against the West Indies, rejoined Karnataka earlier this season. His return follows a crucial stint with Vidarbha, where he played a pivotal role in their triumphant Ranji Trophy campaign last year. The experienced middle-order batter had earlier been named among the probables for the state side’s selection.
Mayank Agarwal will continue to lead the Karnataka Ranji Trophy squad. The team also welcomes several promising new faces, including Kruthik Krishna, Shikhar Shetty, and Mohsin Khan, indicating a blend of experience and youth.
Adding to the excitement, Anvay Dravid, the talented son of former India captain Rahul Dravid, will take the reins as captain for Karnataka in the upcoming Vinoo Mankad Trophy. This tournament is scheduled to be held in Dehradun from October 9 to 17. Anvay, who was the top-scorer for the state in the previous edition, is expected to once again be a crucial performer at the top of the batting order, showcasing his leadership and batting skills.
Karnataka Ranji Trophy Squad:
- Mayank Agarwal (captain)
- Karun Nair
- R Smaran
- KL Shrijith (wicketkeeper)
- Shreyas Gopal
- Vyshak Vijayakumar
- Vidwath Kaverappa
- Abhilash Shetty
- M Venkatesh
- Nikin Jose
- Abhinav Manohar
- Kruthik Krishna (wicketkeeper)
- KV Aneesh
- Mohsin Khan
- Shikhar Shetty
Karnataka Squad for Vinoo Mankad Trophy:
- Anvay Dravid (captain, wicketkeeper)
- Nitish Arya
- Adarsh D Urs
- S Manikanth (vice-captain)
- Praneeth Shetty
- Vasav Venkatesh
- Akshath Prabhakar
- C Vaibhav
- Kuldeep Singh Purohit
- Rathan BR
- Vaibhav Sharma
- KA Tejas
- Atharv Malviya
- Sunny Kanchi
- Rehan Mohammed