'Dear cricket, please give me a chance': Karun Nair's emotional Test return after nearly 3000 days
Karun Nair (PTI Photo)Shubman Gill story: From a remote village near the border to India’s Test captainNEW DELHI: After almost 3000 days, Karun Nair is once again slated to don the India whites. The man who became only the second Indian batter, after Virender Sehwag , to score a triple century in Test cricket had long been out of contention following his last appearance in 2017 against Australia in Dharamsala.He had to wait. He went back to domestic cricket, kept playing, and continued knocking on the selectors’ doors — but those knocks seemed to fall on deaf ears. Still, he didn’t give up. He remained silent and kept telling himself, "Dear cricket, give me one more chance."The right-hander was prolific in the 2024–25 domestic season, scoring 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy matches with four centuries, and 779 runs in eight Vijay Hazare Trophy innings, including five centuries.Finally, the day came. After 3000 days — or 8 years and 2 months — Nair will once again proudly wear the India Test jersey he waited so long to reclaim.On Saturday, BCCI named Nair in India’s squad for the upcoming five-match Test series in England. The series will take place from June to August 2025, with matches scheduled at Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord’s (London), Old Trafford (Manchester), and The Oval (London).Interestingly, Nair made his Test debut against England in 2016. He was the 287th player to represent India in Tests, receiving his cap from the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.Now, at 33, he returns to the Test arena after a long hiatus — once again against England, but this time in their own backyard.Nair’s childhood coach B. Shivanand recalled that during these years, the only thing his student would quietly say while packing his kit bag was, “Cricket will give me another chance.”"He always remained calm. Never spoke about anything. 'Sir, cricket will give me another chance for sure' — that’s all he used to say whenever I looked at him. Seeing him so silent, I never asked him about his snub from the Test team. This guy is a god-gifted player. There are many, and he is one of them. May God bless him always. God is there, and He has given him a second life. I’m confident he will do better this time as well," Nair's childhood coach B. Shivanand told TimesofIndia.com in an exlclusive interview.Nair, who managed just four runs in his maiden Test outing, made a stunning comeback in his next match. He scored an unbeaten 303 off 381 balls, laced with 32 boundaries and 4 sixes, joining Sehwag's elite company.Sehwag, the first Indian to score a triple century in Tests, publicly lauded Nair for the feat."Yay ! Welcome to the 300 club @karun126. It was very lonely here for the last 12 years 8 months. Wish you the very best Karun.Maza aa gaya!," Sehwag had poted.Ironically, for Shivanand, the triple century instigated his prolonged exile from Test cricket."I don’t know what the thinking was behind his ouster. I believe it was the triple ton. Success often comes at a cost. After Sehwag, Nair was the one who scored a triple century in Tests, and instead of giving a talent like him a long rope, they snubbed him. That’s not fair. That’s not fair to any cricketer who is talented and performing. Talented players shouldn’t be treated like tissue paper. Any other cricketer might have given up or even retired, but this guy was truly hungry for a comeback," the coach said."He always said, ‘I have to score runs in domestic cricket and the IPL,’ and he was confident he would be rewarded for his hard work. The wait was too long, and I’m sure, somewhere deep inside, Karun must be crying silently. But this time, you’ll see a different Karun."He’s not outwardly aggressive, but if you really want to see his aggression, just watch him now — with the bat. I want him to answer all the questions with a century this time, and he will. Watch out for him. That’s all I want to say. He is hungry — very hungry," Shivanand said.
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