Karun Nair: Trusting His Process to Propel Karnataka in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Karun Nair had a challenging Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season, managing only 71 runs across six games with a single fifty, leading to his exclusion from the final league match against Tripura. Such a decision seemed unthinkable considering his excellent domestic performance over the previous two seasons.

After a stellar 2024-25 season with Vidarbha, which earned him a spot on the Indian team, Nair returned to Karnataka for the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, continuing his trend of amassing runs in First Class cricket. This season, he achieved a double century (233) against Kerala, an unbeaten century (173 not out) against Goa, and a vital fifty (73) against Saurashtra.

Despite being retained by the Delhi Capitals for the IPL, Nair’s form dipped in the SMAT, coinciding with Karnataka’s overall lackluster performance in the tournament. Reflecting on his T20 performance, he said, “I was quite satisfied with my batting this season, though not in T20. I managed only one fifty and was disappointed with my SMAT performance.”

Nair expressed satisfaction in finding his form during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, saying, “As a senior player, I understand my role and responsibility and am pleased to contribute to the team,” after his century against Kerala helped the defending champions secure their second consecutive win in the tournament.

“I always look for scoring opportunities, regardless of the format, and don’t hesitate to take calculated risks early on. I aim to dominate the spinners using sweep shots, both regular and reverse, trusting in the methods that have brought me success,” he added.

His 130 not out against Kerala marked his third century against them this year, making up for earlier shortcomings against the team. At 34, Nair remains focused on helping Karnataka retain the VHT trophy, without looking too far ahead.

Published on December 27, 2025.