Cricket Gave Karun Nair A Chance But He Failed To Make It Count

Jatin

Karun Nair failed to impress on his comeback [Source: @kirikraja/x.com]Karun Nair failed to impress on his comeback [Source: @kirikraja/x.com]

“Dear cricket, give me one more chance.” That was Karun Nair’s emotional plea on X back in December 2022, when he was dropped from Karnataka’s Ranji squad for the first time since his debut in 2013-14.

Cricket Gifted Him Another Shot But Karun Nair Couldn’t Deliver

Nearly a two and a half years later, the gods of Indian cricket answered his call, handing the 33-year-old a recall for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. It was his first Test appearance since March 2017 in Dharamshala. But cricket can be a cruel game as it gave him a chance but the batter failed to grab it.

For years, Karun Nair’s name popped up only once a season, on the anniversary of that magical 303*. He looked set to remain one of those “what if” players. A man who touched the stars early, only to fade away. But against the odds, he clawed his way back into the Indian Test side through sheer domestic grind.

Runs Hard To Come By

The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy turned into a festival of runs with flat pitches serving batters a buffet. Centuries were flying left, right and centre. In the middle of all that, Karun Nair walked away averaging just 25.62 across four Tests. Among the top six batters with more than one hit, only debutant Sai Sudharsan fared worse. Seven innings, just one fifty, and plenty of what-could-have-beens.

He started the tour with a four-ball duck at Leeds. At Lord’s, he was on course for a gritty half-century until Joe Root pulled off a blinder in the slips. Dropped for the fourth Test, his return came only thanks to Rishabh Pant’s injury. This time he finally crossed fifty, his first since that unbeaten triple in 2016.

On a rain-hit day where nobody else touched forty, Karun’s knock carried weight. But the final outing was scratchy, ending with a glove to the keeper after Gus Atkinson cranked one up. Cameras later showed him fiddling with his injured finger, a small snapshot of his struggle.

The Missed Chance

This comeback will sting. Karun came into the series riding high, a double-ton for India A against the Lions, big scores in the Ranji Trophy and a monstrous Vijay Hazare season where he averaged 390 with five centuries.

He even had county cricket experience under his belt. If ever there was a time to stamp his mark, this was it. Instead, in a series of 21 hundreds, his numbers looked pale. And that has been Karun’s story. 

On his day, he times the ball like a dream. Cover drives rocket off his bat like bullets. He has made not just one, but two triples in first-class cricket. Yet, too often he is guilty of throwing away starts. Karnataka let him go for the same reason, until Vidarbha revived him. Consistency has always been his stumbling block.

What Happens Next?

At 33, Karun isn’t exactly yesterday’s news. But he isn’t tomorrow’s headline either. India’s batting line-up is a traffic jam of talent. Shubman Gill owns No. 4, Pant and Jadeja are locks and Sai Sudharsan might get a longer rope at No. 3. 

Behind them, the bench is overflowing with the likes Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, even Shreyas Iyer sniffing another shot. Karun’s margin for error is razor-thin.

What could work in his favour is India’s next two series being at home. On spinning decks, his recent domestic form could earn him another nod. After all, selectors have been rewarding Ranji grind more than ever.

In Vidarbha’s title-winning season, he was the fourth-highest scorer, averaging 54 with four tons. The season before, he piled up 690 runs. Numbers like that deserve another look.

Conclusion

Karun Nair’s return was no fairy tale. It was scratchy, frustrating and far from the headlines he would have wanted. But it wasn’t meaningless. It showed he still has the grit, the hunger and maybe just enough time to script one more chapter.

In a game that gives and takes in cruel measure, he has already made one improbable climb back. For all that hard grind, maybe, just maybe, he deserves a little more rope!