Former India cricketer-turned commentator Ambati Rayudu has backed Karun Nair to make a comeback in the Indian Test team on the tour of England. Nair slammed a breathtaking 89 (40) against Mumbai Indians (MI) on his IPL comeback after three years as he registered his first half-century in the T20 extravaganza since 2018.
During his innings, Nair even took on Jasprit Bumrah, whacking him for 18 runs to bring up his half-century off just 22 deliveries. Following his remarkable innings, Rayudu was full of praise for the Vidarbha batter for transforming his career at the age of 33. He also expressed his wish of seeing Karun make a comeback to the Indian Test team.
“It’s sheer persistence because what you go through when things don’t go well for you in India is not easy to withstand. A lot of people have gone through that, and very few have come out of that with flying colors and Karun Nair is one. Because once you get lost in the domestic system in India, it is very, very tough to make a comeback. Especially because mentally you’re always dragged down by so many things around you, and a lot of people will write you off. Cricket is a game that moves on fast, but still, cricket has moved on, but Karun Nair, has not moved on. He has never left, learning, never left working hard, never, left the belief that he could make a comeback, especially in test cricket. I would sincerely hope and love that he goes to England. He’s on that flight, uh, in the test series,” Rayudu said on Star Sports.
Nair was in the form of life as he enjoyed a prolific run in the domestic season. He played a pivotal role in Vidarbha’s triumph in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, being the fourth-highest run scorer of the season. He accumulated 863 runs from 16 innings at an average of 53.93, registering four hundreds and two fifties.
Karun Nair’s last India appearance
Earlier, he played an integral part in his team’s run to the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, being the highest run scorer of the tournament. The 33-year-old scored 779 runs from eight innings at a mind-boggling average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04 with five hundreds and one fifty.
He also finished as the highest run scorer for his team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 with 255 runs from six innings at an average of 42.50 and a strike rate of 177.08. Hence, Nair has been plundering runs everywhere and has openly expressed his desire to make a comeback to the Indian side.
His last appearance in Test cricket was back in 2017 against Australia in Dharamsala and he was never picked again following the tour to England in 2018. He’s likely to be picked in the India A squad, which will face the England Lions in two four-day matches during the May-June window in preparation for the five-match Test series against England. A stellar show in the series could well open the doors for a return for Karun Nair.
 against Mumbai Indians (MI) on his IPL comeback after three years.){kind=link}