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Karun Nair fights back Test snub with back-to-back centuries in Ranji Trophy

Aakash Saini

Karun Nair celebrating his century [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x]Karun Nair celebrating his century [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x]

Run-machine Karun Nair churned out yet another Ranji Trophy century, this time brandishing his bat at Kerala bowlers in the Elite Group B match of the 2025-26 season in Mangalapuram. Mere days after mounting 174* against Goa, the cricketer notched up his 26th first-class hundred as he continues to knock selection doors amid his repeated Test snubs.

Nair’s innings helped Karnataka attain early control over Kerala, despite losing two early wickets in the innings in the form of senior man Mayank Agarwal and KV Aneesh.

Karun Nair punishes Kerala bowlers after West Indies snub

Karun Nair was selected in Team India squad a couple of months ago for a five-match Test series in England, thus receiving his national red-ball recall after a gap of nearly a decade. However, the cricketer was once again dropped from the side after just one series, as Team India faced West Indies at home without his services.

Nonetheless, Karun Nair went back to his domestic roots, where he has now resumed his run-scoring spree by racking up mountains of runs game after game. A few days after sinking Goa with a 174*-run epic in Shimoga, the elegant right-hander has now punched out a sizzling century against Kerala to lift Karnataka after their top-order setbacks.

Notching up his 26th first-class century and his second in succession this Ranji Trophy 2025-26 tournament, Karun Nair has once again made a compelling statement in his quest for a national comeback, reaffirming his hunger to don the Indian whites and cementing his long-lost spot in the Test setup.

Karun Nair’s happy reunion with Karnataka

After a brief-yet-prolific stint with Vidarbha, Karun Nair reunited with Karnataka ahead of the 2025-26 Indian domestic season. He started off his season with a gutsy 73-run knock against Saurashtra back in October last month in Rajkot.

He followed it up with a sizzling 174* against Goa, and has now scored a cracking century against Kerala. All in all, the 34-year-old has emerged as one of the highest run-makers this Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, with close to 400 runs to his name at an average exceeding 150.