Strangely, few stories generate such interest, uncertainty and silent respect in Indian cricket’s long and storied background than that of Karun Nair. A triple-centurion who disappeared almost as quickly as he arrived, Karun returns to the Indian Test squad in 2025 for a highly anticipated second debut. With Karun’s career defined by one of the greatest innings in Indian Test cricket—and an equally perplexing absence—his return to the squad is not merely a recall. It is a story of perseverance, redemption and maybe a bit of unfinished business.
A Record That Will Echo Through Time
Karun Nair entered the international circuit with astuteness and potential, but what made his introduction even more memorable was that knock in December 2016 against England, in Chennai. In just his third Test, Karun Nair recorded 303 not out*, becoming only the second Indian batter, following Virender Sehwag, to record a Test triple century.
Nair placed himself into an incredibly small group of international cricketers who have turned their first Test century into a triple hundred—so rare a feat that it should have solidified him in the Test team for years to come.
Unfortunately, what transpired in the following days was a confusing story. Despite an incredible knock, he was dropped shortly after and went almost the next 4 years on the fringes of the Test side.
Years In Obscurity
It was compounded by the bewilderment of opaqueness around his non-selection.In the time since this innings, selectors manipulated several combinations of the middle order, sometimes providing lengthy chances to players of far less statistical significance. While competition was tight – with the middle order being dominated by stalwarts such as Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and, Ajinkya Rahane – it was hard to understand how a player who played an innings so epic could be so hindered.
Nair himself has been calm and never took to the media to badmouth about his position, or play the victim, he just ground his way back, with consistent performances for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy, consistency in India A tours, and while captain of Karnataka maintaining continuity, while mentoring young cricketers, and ultimately constructing a case for consideration.
The 2025 Recall – Why Now?
Now, in 2025, almost nine years since his debut, Karun Nair was recalled to the Indian Test squad as part of the five-Test series against England. His recall is not just throwing a bone, but tactical.
The Indian Test Team is currently going through a generational transition. With India losing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin to retirement and without Mohammed Shami to injury, not only is this a void of experience and talent, but of very important, stabilisation of the middle order. As India’s newly minted Test captain, Shubman Gill needs players who are allows battle-hardened in their mentality, who understand all the pressure’s of the game, and temperament to assist in the continuity of the innings.
In that context, Karun is providing exactly what India needs: maturity, experience and a burning desire to prove himself.
What Karun Brings to Team India
1. Middle-order Stability
Karun Nair is as reliable as they come, he has a good batting technique, he is equally adept against pace and spin, he has proven aptitude aiding his batting in difficult conditions. In the middle order, having a player of this reliability provides depth and stability to India’s batting lineup, especially for overseas Tests where the middle order can drastically change the game-losing collapse.
2. Combative temperament
He is not easily rattled, he has never had issues with his temperament. The innings of 303* showed his quality as a batsman, however inability to adapt to the situation is ability to keep your cool in the chaos of Test cricket especially when trying to dig your way out of a top-order collapse.
3. Leadership Layer
Karun Nair may not be a part of the leadership group, however, his years of captaincy of Karnataka and experience in senior domestic cricket is invaluable in supporting Shubman Gill and his new management group.
4. Second Chance Viewpoint
Players that return from long absences usually have an added layer of appreciation for the game. He knows the sadness of being in the crisis and feels the special privilege of putting on the cap again. Expect Karun to play each innings like it is his last. More importantly, expect this behaviour to be morphed as a contagious attitude.
The Challenge of England
Karun’s comeback tour could not be any tougher. England is one of the most demanding places to bat in the world, with swinging conditions and high-intensity crowds, specifically for players from the subcontinent. India has not won a Test series on English soil since 2007, meaning expectations are only going to be enormous.
For Karuna, this will be both a test and an opportunity. A good performance here, and he would not only have earned his place here, but could potentially earn a place longer-term, as this series offers WTC points to help keep his place longer-term. On the flip side, a low-performance series may see him quietly slip back into the shadows again.
A Redemption Story
Cricket, more than any sport, enables redemption. The recall in 2025 has allowed Karun Nair the space to reclaim a story that was denied a fairly ending. In a time where selectors reward youth, India’s decision to give a 33-year-old who has not played a Test for years is a testament to authenticity over conjecture.
His recall is also a reminder to all aspiring professionals, that talent will always find a way back in – if it is paired alongside attitude.
Support of Public & Peers
Since the announcement of Karun’s recall was made, there has been an avalanche of positive comments on social media. Most former cricketer, analysts and fans have given one summary support of, “He deserves another go – give him a chance”. Many have backed Karun on their own, a few have also cited Karun’s strong domestic statistics, dignified ability to cope with exclusion, and sheer mental strength to explain why he could produce good outcomes at this second emergence.
Final Thoughts
In the fast-paced world of modern cricket, where players are constantly assessed based on recency and popularity — this opportunity for Karun Nair returns altogether a great opportunity not for him to advance with the game, but perhaps as significant, for everyone to remember patience along with the quieter persistence. He doesn’t concern himself with attempting to carve headlines as he once was in his career, but instead, he now holds the opportunity to make another announcement on his legacy in the same direction as his batting performance on the field.
Kheloexch users tracking every squad update through the Kheloexch app have welcomed Karun’s return as a moment of quiet significance.
Here, in the dawn of a new era for Tests in India under the auspices of Shubman Gill, the call-up for Karun in the team can only assist in bringing stability within the dressing room. And if he can deliver anything close to the output he is capable of producing, Indian cricket won’t just have its own system back, but instead will have completed a redemption arc, more than 4 years in gestation.
The triple-centurion is back. And this time he doesn’t even have a score to settle — he has a legacy to finalise.