Karun Nair's sole aim is to make Test return: Details
What's the story
Indian batter Karun Nair is currently undergoing a challenging career revival. Despite not representing India in seven years, he has demonstrated his enduring passion for the game. Over the past year, Nair has been scoring runs for Vidarbha and Northamptonshire in English county cricket. He emphasized his focus on the immediate future rather than getting caught up in long-term prospects.
Career revival
Nair's impressive performance in English county cricket
Nair's career saw a resurgence when he played for Northamptonshire in early 2023. He scored 249 runs from three matches at an average of 83, including a century against eventual champion Surrey. This year, he has accumulated 487 runs from seven matches at an average of 49 with a century against Glamorgan. These performances have boosted his confidence and reaffirmed his dedication to the sport.
Domestic success
Nair's successful transition to Vidarbha
Nair's move from Karnataka to Vidarbha during the last domestic season proved beneficial. He scored 690 runs from 10 matches with two centuries, propelling his team to the Ranji Trophy semifinals. Despite his disappointment at not playing a First-Class match for a full season, he found positivity in this challenging period. Notably, he featured for India in six Tests, scoring 374 runs. He smashed 303* against England in 2016.
Test ambition
Nair's renewed aspiration to play for India
The past year has reignited Nair's aspiration to return to the Indian dressing room. His sole aim now is to represent India in Test cricket again, a goal he feels confident about achieving. He stated, "Yes, of course. Everyone plays this game to go out there and represent your country and that's my only aim now -- to play Test cricket again."