Karun Nair Replies to Ajit Agarkar’s Statement
Karun Nair has issued a firm response to BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s comments, which hinted at an end to his Test career. The right-handed batter, who struggled to make an impact in England earlier this year, has made it clear he won’t give up easily. Nair said he would keep scoring heavily in Ranji Trophy 2025 to push his way back into the national squad.
Earlier this month, Ajit Agarkar publicly said that Nair had “failed to meet the team management’s expectations” during the England series.
“Obviously, it is quite disappointing. After the last two years I’ve had, I think I deserved a lot better. More than a series,” Nair said. “There are certain individuals in the [Indian] team who have had good conversations with me about how they felt. That’s about it. It does get into the head. But the second thought would be to do your job, which is to score runs and let people have their opinions.”
Red-Hot Form in Domestic Circuit
Even though he was ignored for the Duleep Trophy, India A fixtures, and the West Indies Test series, Nair stayed locked in on his game. Returning to the Ranji Trophy for Karnataka, he registered scores of 73 and 8 in the first match before hammering a brilliant unbeaten 174 against Goa. This knock arrived just weeks after he was snubbed for the India A series against South Africa A.
“Honestly, what target can I have next? All I want to do is to play for the country. If you’re not able to do that, the next thing would be to try and win games for the side you are playing for,” he said.
Agarkar Explains the Selection Decision
Agarkar later opened up on why the selectors moved on from the experienced batter.
“We expected more from him (in England). He played four Tests, and there was just one fifty. We would like to give 15-20 chances to everyone, but unfortunately it does not work that way.”
Nair’s Determination Sends a Message
Before the England Tests, Nair had smashed a double hundred in the India A warm-up game, showing early promise. But in the main series, he could manage only 205 runs from four matches with a single fifty. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s retirements leaving a gap at the top, the veteran sees an opening to return through sheer performance.
His recent form and strong words make his intent clear — Karun Nair is not stepping away from the fight.
Stay tuned for all the latest Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, Cricket updates, match highlights, player analysis, and viral moments!