Karun Nair’s remarkable comeback: From retirement advice to India squad return

After being urged to retire and secure his future, Karun Nair defied odds with stellar domestic performances, including a double century for India A, earning a national recall after eight years. This report covers his journey of resilience, self-belief, and the stats behind his resurgence.

Sources:
SportsNews18Timesofindia+1
Updated 47m ago
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Sources: News18SportsTimesofindia+1
Karun Nair's cricket journey is a testament to resilience and self-belief. Despite being advised by a prominent Indian cricketer to retire and focus on lucrative overseas T20 leagues, Nair refused to give up on his dream of playing for India again.

Over the past two years, Nair's domestic performances have been nothing short of spectacular. After switching to Vidarbha, he scored 690 runs in 10 games and followed it with 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy matches in 2024, including four centuries and a crucial century in the final that helped Vidarbha clinch the title.

His County Championship stint with Northamptonshire further sharpened his skills, where he amassed 736 runs at an average of 56.61 during the 2023-24 seasons. This consistent form kept him in contention for national selection.

Nair's breakthrough came with a commanding double-century for India A against the England Lions in the first unofficial Test at Canterbury, solidifying his case for a return to the senior India squad.

Reflecting on the advice to retire, Nair said, "I still remember a prominent Indian cricketer calling me and saying you need to retire because the money in these leagues would make me secure. It would have been easy to do but I knew that regardless of the money, I would be kicking myself for giving up that easily."

Now, at 33, Nair is back in the India Test squad, ready to prove his mettle on the international stage once again. His story underscores the power of perseverance and belief in one's abilities.

"I was never going to give up on playing for India again. That was just over two years ago, and look where we are now. It9s crazy, but deep down, I knew I was good enough," he added.
Sources: SportsTimesofindia
Karun Nair, once advised to retire, has defied odds with stellar domestic performances and a double-century for India A, earning a return to India's Test squad after over eight years. His resilience and form, including 863 runs in the Ranji Trophy, mark a remarkable cricket comeback.
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Key Facts
  • A prominent Indian cricketer advised Karun Nair to retire and secure his future financially through overseas T20 leagues, which required ending his BCCI ties.2Sports
  • Nair chose not to retire, emphasizing self-belief and determination over taking the easy financial route.News18Sports
  • Switching to Vidarbha revitalized Nair's career, making him the most in-form batter in the country.News18
  • In 2024, Nair scored 863 runs at an average of 53.93 with five centuries in eight innings during a title-winning campaign.1
  • Nair scored 736 runs at an average of 56.61 in the County Championship during the 2023–24 seasons with Northamptonshire.
  • He scored 690 runs in 10 games and 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy games in 2024, including four centuries and one in the finals, helping Vidarbha lift the trophy.Sports
  • Nair scored a double century for India A against the England Lions in the first unofficial Test last week in Canterbury, bolstering his case for national selection.Timesofindia
  • After over eight years without playing for India, Nair made a remarkable comeback to the India squad in 2025.Sports3Timesofindia
In hindsight, Nair can only be grateful he didn’t give in—because 2025 has turned out to be the year of his return.
Hindustan Times
1
'I still remember a prominent Indian cricketer calling me and saying you need to retire because the money in these leagues would make me secure. It would have been easy to do but I knew that regardless of the money, I would be kicking myself for giving up that easily.'
Sports
Sports
A switch to Vidarbha brought back runs and sublime touch, allowing him to become the most in-form batter in the country.
News18
News18
Defying advice, Nair's domestic dominance and resilience earned him a spot in India’s squad for England Tests.
Timesofindia
Timesofindia
Key Stats at a Glance
Runs scored in title-winning campaign
863 runs
1
Batting average in title-winning campaign
53.9
Runs scored in County Championship 2023-24
736 runs
Batting average in County Championship 2023-24
56.6
Runs scored in 10 Ranji Trophy games
690 runs
Sports
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