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Karun Nair Comeback Story: When 'Internally Broken' Guy Took Help From U19 Coach

Akshita Patel

Karun Nair's comeback story [Source: @Varungiri0/X.com]Karun Nair's comeback story [Source: @Varungiri0/X.com]

After 7 long years, Karun Nair is back in the Indian Test team, and it’s no accident. His return is the result of 2 years of intense training, mental strength, and the support of a small but dedicated team, including his former U19 coach Vijayakumar Madyalkar, who formed a WhatsApp group called ‘Comeback Season.’ 

As India announced its squad for the upcoming Test tour to England, Nair was included in the list for his stunning domestic season which saw him scoring 1,553 runs in 33 innings, including 883 runs in the Ranji Trophy. 

However, this comeback didn’t happen overnight. At his rock bottom, Nair called upon his previous U19 and U25 coach Vijayakumar Madyalkar and the two of them worked together to build Nair an incredible comeback.

Vijayakumar Madyalkar Transformed A Broken Karun Nair Into A Beast

Karun Nair, once known for scoring a triple century in Test cricket, hit rock bottom in 2022 after being dropped from the Karnataka team. 

Unsure of his future, he turned to his former coach Vijayakumar Madyalkar, who agreed to help him rebuild. For six months, Nair faced 600 balls every two days at the Just Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to hone his skill and fitness.

“He was internally broken. I didn’t want to discuss why he couldn’t make the Karnataka team. I just told him not to worry, and we will only look at the batsman in him and refine the skills as much as possible. Six months. Every alternate day, he used to come to bat 600 balls precisely, facing the side-arm throwers and other bowlers in our academy," Madyalkar told Indian Express.

Without domestic opportunities in India, Nair moved to England and played for Northamptonshire, where a big 150-run innings revived his confidence.

"He wanted to test his game but we just could not get him any game time here. There were no opportunities in India when the season was on, and so he had latched onto the County stint that came after a year," he added.

He then joined Vidarbha as a guest player and delivered an amazing Ranji Trophy season, scoring 883 runs and helping the team win the title. 

Furthermore, Karun Nair's apparent captaincy abilities shine through when he captained Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and scored 5 centuries (including 4 centuries back-to-back). His consistent performances, fitness transformation (losing 10 kilos and gaining muscle), and mental toughness impressed the selectors enough for a long-awaited recall.