Former cricketer-turned commentator Ambati Rayudu has thrown his weight behind Karun Nair for India comeback, saying that the latter should be picked in the Test team on the upcoming tour of England.
Playing for Delhi Capitals (DC), Nair slammed 89 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Arun Jaitely Stadium on Sunday (April 14). It was his comeback IPL match after three years and the right-hander made it count with an explosive knock.
During his whirlwind display, Nair was severe on Jasprit Bumrah as well. He hammered the star pacer for two boundaries in the fourth over of the run chase and two sixes and one four in the last over of the powerplay.
Following his remarkable innings, Rayudu lauded Karun for transforming his career at the age of 33. He also expressed his wish of seeing the Vidarbha batter 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.
Karun Nair was prolific in domestic cricket this season. He played a pivotal role in Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy 2024-25 triumph, being the fourth-highest run scorer of the season. He amassed 863 runs from 16 innings at an average of 53.93, including four hundreds and two half-centuries.
Earlier, Nair led Vidarbha to the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, where he finished as the leading run-getter of the tournament. The 33-year-old scored 779 runs from eight innings at a staggering average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04 with five hundreds and one fifty.
Nair 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, many voices have raised for his India call-up in recent months.
Nair’s last appearance in Test cricket was back in 2017 against Australia in Dharamsala and he was completely sidelined from the squad following the tour to England in 2018.
