Karun Nair has been knocking on the door of the Indian cricket team after his heroics for Vidarbha in the domestic circuit. Nair finished the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 779 runs at a mind-boggling average of 390, while continuing to pile up runs in the Ranji Trophy wherein he has amassed a tally of 521, and counting, at an average of almost 50, helping Vidarbha to qualify for the semi-finals of the premier domestic tournament. With an opening in the Indian team looking realistic in three unofficial Tests against England Lions after the IPL, where he will turn up for the Delhi Capitals, followed by the marquee five-Test series against England, Nair, in this candid interview with RevSportz, opens up on his recent form in domestic cricket, his transition to Vidarbha, the emotional struggles of being dropped after becoming the second Indian player to score a Test triple century and his unwavering focus on making a comeback.
Here are the excerpts:
Q: What has been the secret to your success this season? 521 runs and counting in the Ranji Trophy at an average of almost 50; 779 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at a staggering average of 390. It has been an insane season for you…
Karun Nair: I have been batting the same way for the past 16-18 months. It was just about replicating whatever I was doing well, which I was fortunate enough to do over a consistent period. I have not made any changes to anything. It’s just 3-4 years of hard work on a consistent basis, going through the same process every single day, waking up every single day with one single thing in your head to go out there and play for your country. So, I think it’s all the 3-4 years of hard work or many more years of hard work that is coming into existence now.
Q: Ajit Agarkar recently acknowledged your performances at a press conference. How good was it to see the chief selector take a note of your runs in public?
Karun Nair: It was good to see that a clear statement was given and I think he made it very clear that, you know, what their thinking was, which makes it easier for the player to understand where he needs to go and what he needs to do. For me at least, it is just about focusing on the next match and focusing on winning the Ranji Trophy at the moment.
Q: How has been the experience of playing for Vidarbha? The team has qualified for the semi-finals and is looking in red hot form as a unit.
Karun Nair: Honestly, they have welcomed me amazingly well. They have made me feel like their family from day one. I never felt like I am a professional playing for them. It always felt like we were always one team and I am always there to help anyone that needs help or any advice. Obviously, moving states, moving from your home team and playing for Vidarbha was a different feeling altogether. But for me, it was just about getting an opportunity to come back and have the opportunity to play first-class cricket was the most important thing. And I am really grateful to the Vidarbha Cricket Association for giving me that opportunity. And once I got that opportunity, it was making sure that I made the most of it and, you know, repaid the faith that they showed in me.
Q: How tough was moving away from Karnataka, your home state for whom you have played all your cricket from age-group to seniors? We saw you completely vanish for a season. What happened there?
Karun Nair: Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know what happened. I am not the right person to ask what happened. You should ask other people in the KSCA and I am not the right person to comment on it. Obviously, it was an emotional moment for me. It was not easy for me to not have a place in the team. And for reasons even I don’t know and I won’t be able to comment on the reasons. You will have to ask someone else. But yes, like I said before, it was an emotional moment. It was a very difficult moment. I played all my age-group, all my cricket for Karnataka. And to not have a spot out of the blue, it was a very difficult moment. And something that obviously, if you look back, has helped me push myself and get better at whatever I am doing. Something that will always be in my head to push myself in every situation.
Q: You said it was a very emotional moment for you to not find a spot in the Karnataka team. How tough was it mentally?
Karun Nair: I am a very quiet person. I like to not show it. I am not someone who will overreact. Like you can imagine, it was an emotional moment. I don’t want to go too much into that. Because it is something that I want to move on from and there are better things to look forward to. Like I always said, it was a very emotional moment and you can gather from those times how it would have been. I am someone who tries to keep everything to myself or closed ones, that’s it. And not show too much to the outside world.
Q: Coming to the present scenario, how has been the reception from general cricket fans, in real life and on social media as well? Fans, in numbers, are writing daily to bring Karun Nair back to the Indian team…
Karun Nair: Quite honestly, it has been very astonishing and I am very grateful. It is amazing to see the amount of affection and love that I am getting. And I am very thankful to everyone who is showing their support behind me. All I would like to do is keep performing the way I am in each and every game. And that’s my only goal. I just want to keep performing every game that I play. At the moment, the aim is to try and win the Ranji Trophy and then we will see where we go after that.
Q: How challenging was that phase after getting dropped after the Australia series in 2017?
Karun Nair: I think it has always been a rollercoaster ride. There have been many ups and downs. More downs than ups I would say. But yes, it has been challenging. It has been emotional. After scoring a triple hundred, I was not there after the Australia series. Played a season of domestic cricket. Scored a lot of runs. Then made a comeback in 2018 to go to the Test tour in England. I didn’t get a chance there and then, again I was out. Again, this is me trying to come back for the second or third time I would say. Like I said, it has been challenging. It has been emotional. But it has all been an amazing journey. It is something that I have enjoyed and something that has taught me a lot over the years. Every day is a learning curve. I am trying to get better every day and do the same things over and over again. I am trying to get better at whatever I do on the cricket field as an athlete and as a person off the field as well.
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Q: Did you self-introspect on why you were dropped from the Indian team? Are there any regrets?
Karun Nair: Obviously, if I look at it, I have played four innings after the 300. In those four innings, I have got starts in two games. I have got 25 and around 30 or something. So, if I can introspect and say, yes, if I have got a start in those two innings, I should have made it and sealed it and I should have scored big in those innings. But having said that, I only played four innings after scoring a triple hundred. So, I can look at it both ways. If I am heavily critical of myself, I can say, yes, I got two starts, but I did not make use of it. But if you look at it from the other side, you can say I got only four innings. I could have got more. So, it’s difficult to say one way or the other. It depends on how you look at it and how everyone looks at it. So, for me, it’s about, like I said, that time I got dropped and then I made a comeback. I played, I went on the England tour and I didn’t get a chance after making a comeback also. So, obviously from my side, it was difficult. But it’s something that I have accepted and moved on. It’s not helpful for me to keep looking back at that and thinking about that.
Q: How tough was that England tour where you did not get a chance? How draining can it become for someone who is training every day, turning up for practice, being with the team, carrying drinks, everything, but still not getting a chance to play?
Karun Nair: It was very tough. You are away from home, you are training hard every single day, you are trying to do your best every single day. But in a team sport, only 11 can play and you are part of the squad. If I look back at it, it’s very difficult but it was something that I had to accept. It’s not in my hands. My job was to train properly, to be fit and do everything that was in my hand. After that, it’s not in my hands. The tougher part for me was coming back and then not being in the team at all. That is probably something even more tough than not getting a chance. When you know you are in the level of 15 but you are not able to get in the 11, obviously, it’s not in your hands. But to not be there in the team after that was more difficult than not getting a chance.
Q: There is a massive transition going on in the Indian Test side. We have seen Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara getting dropped. Ravichandran Ashwin has retired. We don’t know what will happen with Rohit Sharma or the other senior players who are on the wrong side of thirty. Do you think you still will be a perfect fit in that middle order?
Karun Nair: Well, at least in the age category, I don’t think I should be even talked about according to the age, because I am younger than everyone that you have mentioned. I am not sure how they are thinking or what they are going to do. For me, what’s important is the Ranji Trophy and trying to win the Ranji Trophy. And whatever happens after that, it’s not in my hands. Whatever is in my hands, I would like to do that. And I am not thinking about anything else.
Q: What’s the difference between the Karun Nair who scored a triple century for India in 2016 to this Karun Nair, who is fighting to be in that Test side in 2025?
Karun Nair: I think I have changed a lot. Life around me has changed. I have two beautiful babies now. Family changes things and responsibilities change when you have babies. A lot of things have changed. It has made me more mature as a person and more calm as a person and as a player, I would say. It (family) gives you direction because you have to perform well and look after the family. And there is a lot of responsibility. It gives you direction. It helps you focus a lot more. And obviously, when you come back home, you have something to look forward to. Going back to your kids always, playing with them gives you a different perspective. They always welcome you with a smile. It doesn’t matter if you have done well or not. So, it changes a lot of things. It changes the way you look at the game and look at life as well.
Q: After the Ranji Trophy, next will be the IPL for Delhi Capitals. How much are you looking forward to this opportunity? Sometimes people have that general perception that domestic stars should play at a higher level. And the IPL somehow has become that benchmark right now.
Karun Nair: It’s important for me and it’s something that I’m looking forward to. I’m excited to play in the IPL after not playing for the last couple of years. Just excited to get the opportunity. If I do get the opportunity to play in the 11, I’ll try and do my best for the team. And try to win a few games and win the tournament for Delhi Capitals. They’ve never won it. It’s something that they’re all looking forward to. And we’re all looking forward to it. So, I’m not looking at it as a personal goal and anything like that. I just want to go out there and enjoy my game. Enjoy the way I’ve been playing and play freely.
Q: Your childhood friend KL Rahul will be your teammate in Delhi Capitals. Will that help?
Karun Nair: Yeah, it will obviously help to have someone that you’ve played all your life with. We started as teenagers. Or even before that, playing U-13 cricket for Karnataka. So, we have known each other for a long time. It obviously helps to have someone that knows you and knows your game very well. Looking forward to playing with him. He’s been so successful over the last 5-6 years in the IPL. He’ll obviously have a lot of advice and help for me to make sure that I perform at the highest level as well.
Q: Since we’re talking about Rahul, Have you been in touch with your mentor Rahul Dravid?
Karun Nair: He’s always been a well-wisher for me. He always follows my cricket and my game. And he’s always been someone who congratulates me whenever I do well and whenever I score runs. He’s always been someone that I know that I can call or message anytime to ask for help. He’ll be someone who’ll always be there to help me with my game on the field. He’s always been someone who told me to express myself and follow my process. And follow the game that I have with full confidence.
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