At a time where the Indian Cricket team has lost not just Rohit Sharma from the test fold owing to the Mumbai-born's recent retirement and in the recent past, even Virat Kohli (nicknamed King Kohli), the focus has come to rest on someone like Karun Nair.
After showing great first-class form in the Vijay Hazare and the Ranji trophy editions, coupled with some fiery display of batting for his Delhi side in the IPL 2025 campaign, Karun Nair, it could be said, earned the faith of the selectors, which maybe wasn't the case backn in 2016 where he had played just one Test.
Despite having scored dollops of runs back then and that too, in his maiden Test assignment, Nair found himself dropped and rather inexplicably. However, it's a new day and it could be said, even a new beginning for the fine young batter who at 33, still has more years of cricket left to serve India with or to put to India's duty.
He must, however, remember, to not turn complacent and score as prolifically as possible as the likes of Gill, recently made the captain and even Jaiswal, currently, a regular fixture of the side in the format, will rest on his talent and experience to come good.
Having said that, which are some of Karun Nair's most respectable and pertinent First-Class scores?
The 303 v England in 2016
Almost a decade back in time, Karun Nair, staying true to his quiet and focused personality, launched himself in a big and respectable way in Test match cricket. A big win for India against visitors England was the result of a young man, newly picked into the Test set up, making 303 runs in his just the third Test of his career
However, just when one thought that Nair would at the back of his glorious triple century become a regular fixture of Indian Test team, he found himself dropped. This was rather unjust and indefinable. But one’s glad now that he’s back in the Test colours, once again.
The 328 v Tamil Nadu in 2015 Ranji trophy
Ten years in a long time in cricket. A really long time, a decade as they say. So it was a decade back in time, where the young but focused, classy as well as determined young Karun Nair stepped up for his Karnataka team in an important game against the domineering Tamil Nadu side in the famed Ranji trophy.
Definitely, the two sides in domestic fold have maintained a fine rivalry since a long time but Nair’s timely and diligent century would ensure that his Karnataka side enjoyed an upper hand over their rivals on this occasion.
Scoring a fantastic and courageous 328, Karun Nair first helped his team to a dominant position of 760 runs. That’s too many runs actually! Not to forget KL Rahul and Vinay Kumar also struck vital hundreds on that very inning for Karnataka. But the top honours belonged to Karun Nair for his focused, 560-ball-stay a the wicket. During this time he hit 46 boundaries.
The 204 v England Lions in 2025
There were several calls that were made in terms of them not being the best or most considerate reactions to Karun Nair’s recent selection for the much-awaited and hugely/anticipated tour to England.
It’s a series, after all, where a lot is at stake for Team India who in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will rest of the dependable shoulders of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and of course, the returning Karun Nair to make the right kind of noises.
But while there are quite a few batters who lash out at their critics, Karun Nair, as one found out upon the completion of a mega knock vs the England Lions, prefers to rest on the laurels of his bat.
His most recent score has been the domineering 204 while playing for India A in the ongoing practice game against England Lions that beckons to be counted among his finest centuries in the template. What was interesting over here was that of the overall 557 runs that Karun Nair's India A made as one unit, the humble cricketer born in Jodhpur rose like a phoenix scoring 204 runs on his own.
On a green top, the focused right hander backed himself to go for a big score at Canterbury.
The big question now is can he take this red hot form into the actual Tests that are to follow.
122 vs Tamil Nadu in 2024-25 Ranji Trophy
In the same tournament during the earlier stages of 2025, Karun Nair exhibited his might whilst batting yet again and this time, it was Tamil Nadu who faced the ire of his blade.
During his first inning stay at the wicket that lasted for no fewer than 243 deliveries, Nair scored 122 runs on his own, the next best score being 69 from Harsh Dubey. Next up, he made another 22 in the other inning thereby notching up 144 runs from the single contest. For his consistency and ability to score sturdily, Nair’s knock remains one of the best in first class cricket.
135 vs Kerala in 2024-25 Ranji Trophy
Earlier during the month of March in 2025, Karun Nair, in red hot form already in the Ranji season, struck a magnificent 135 in the second innings for his Vidarbha team against Kerala.
He missed out on scoring a big hundred big in the first innings (wherein he made 86) but made up really well in the second chance with the bat, in which he scored 135 off 295 deliveries, this exhibiting his patience and temerity with the bat.
Facing the likes and Nidheesh and Eden Apple Tom, the Rajathan-born cricketer was his rich vein of form.
