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"Happy, Proud And Fortunate": Excited Karun Nair Reacts After England Test Call-Up

Soumyajit Dutta

Karun Nair [Source: @TheYorkerBall/X]Karun Nair [Source: @TheYorkerBall/X]

Eight years after fading from the spotlight, Karun Nair, the enigmatic batter who once etched his name alongside Virender Sehwag in Indian cricket folklore, has scripted a fairytale comeback. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Saturday along with the India Test squad for England, that the 33-year-old has been included in India’s squad for the marquee five-Test series in England.

Karun Nair Shares First Thoughts After England Call-Up!

After DC's match against PBKs, which was won by the former by 6 wickets, Karun Nair, who made an impressive 44 off 27 opened up on his Test call-up.

"Grateful to get back, happy and proud and fortunate. Found out like all of you found out. Was eagerly awaiting the call, got a lot of messages from close ones," Nair said in the post-match presentation.

Nair's call-up ended a 3,000-day exile from the national team and Nair’s journey reads like a testament to resilience. 

After Nair's unforgettable 303* against England in Chennai during just his third Test in 2016, the Karnataka batter vanished from the red-ball setup following the 2017 Dharamsala Test against Australia. 

Karun Nair's Road To England Test Call-Up

Despite consistent domestic dominance, his knocks for a national recall went unanswered, until now. The 2024–25 domestic season became Nair’s roaring statement. He amassed 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy matches, including four centuries, and dominated the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 779 runs in eight innings, five of them triple-digit scores. 

As India braces for a gruelling English summer with a balanced veteran plus fresh faces squad, Nair’s inclusion injects intrigue. His technique against swing, patience on seaming tracks, and hunger for validation will be tested which starts from June 20 at Headingley.