Karun Nair (PTI Photo/Sailendra Bhojak) Karun Nair showcased his batting acumen with an unbeaten 174 for Karnataka against Goa in the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy match at the KSCA Navule Stadium in Shimoga. This performance follows his previous score of 73 in the first round.The Karnataka batsman stood firm as Arjun Tendulkar and Vasuki Koushik took three wickets against their team. Nair reached his century on Day 1 and looked set for a double century on Day 2.His quest for a double century was cut short when the last batsman, Vidhwath Kaverappa, ran out. Karnataka managed to post a total of 371 runs.
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The shift comes as a strong statement after Nair’s recent ouster from the Indian Test team. His performance indicates his continued commitment to return to international cricket.Nair returned to the Indian team in June after an eight-year absence, following an impressive showing in the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy season. His selection at No. 3 came after the departure of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in May.His recent international stint proved challenging, with 205 runs in four matches at an average of 25.62. Despite promising starts, he struggled to convert them into sizable scores.The 33-year-old was subsequently dropped from the Test squad for the West Indies home series. He was also not selected for India A’s upcoming series against South Africa A, indicating a shift in the selection committee’s future plans.“We expected more from Karun Nair in England. It can’t be just one innings. Devdutt Padikkal gives us more options. We want to give at least 15-20 chances to each player but it’s not possible every time,” India chief selector Ajit Agarkar said at a recent press conference.
