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Karun Nair Returns To Test Cricket, Joins Elite List With Longest Gaps Between Appearances

Sakshi Sharma

Karun Nair Returns (Source: @forjustcricket,x.com)Karun Nair Returns (Source: @forjustcricket,x.com)

As India and England kicked off the first Test match of the five-match Test series at Headingley, the spotlight turned to one of the most emotional comebacks in Indian cricket history. Karun Nair will walk out in Indian whites once again after more than 3,000 days after his last Test appearance in March 2017.

It was a return few saw coming, fewer believed in, and one that Karun Nair himself once publicly hoped for. After being dropped from the Karnataka domestic team, the right-handed batter posted a heartfelt plea on social media: “Cricket, please give me another chance.” On Friday, the game finally answered, and the star batter has been given another chance.

Longest Gap Between Test Appearances For India

Karun Nair’s return marks the fourth-longest gap between two Test appearances for an Indian cricketer that is 77 matches apart. The only Indians to have longer gaps between caps are Jaydev Unadkat (118 Tests, 2010–2022), Dinesh Karthik (87 Tests, 2010–2018), and Parthiv Patel (83 Tests, 2008–2016).

Check the list here:

  • 118 - Jaydev Unadkat (2010-22)
  • 87 - Dinesh Karthik (2010-18)
  • 83 - Parthiv Patel (2008-16)
  • 77 - Karun Nair (2017-25) *
  • 56 - Abhinav Mukund (2011-17)

After falling out of favour and enduring a slump in form that even saw him axed from the Karnataka Ranji squad, Nair sought fresh beginnings with Vidarbha in the 2024–25 domestic season. His performances were hard to ignore, and was finally recalled in the longest format.

India has made bold calls heading into the series opener, including Sai Sudharsan and recalling Shardul Thakur as the seam-bowling all-rounder. Ravindra Jadeja is named as the lone spinner, while the pace attack is built around three frontline seamers.

England have won the toss and opted to bowl first to exploit the seamer-friendly conditions of Headingley on Day 1. Their lineup saw the return of Chris Woakes and a home debut for Brydon Carse.