Cricket, thanks for giving Karun Nair a second chance-OxBig News Network

This was a tweet from Karun Nair on December 10, 2022 — a plea from a participant slowly slipping away from the cricketing world’s reminiscence. This was a person who as soon as etched his title into Indian cricket historical past by turning into solely the second Indian, after the good Virender Sehwag, to attain a triple century in Test cricket — a staggering 303* in opposition to England in 2016.

Contrary to widespread perception, Karun wasn’t dropped instantly after that triple hundred. His final Test look got here in Dharamshala in opposition to Australia in 2017. After that, he merely pale from the highlight. In the years that adopted, the Indian Test workforce scaled new heights, beating Australia twice in Australia and showing in two World Test Championship finals.

Karun, in the meantime, managed a couple of stable knocks within the Ranji Trophy however struggled with consistency. He remained on the fringes of choice, after which got here that heartfelt tweet — one which melted the hearts of followers throughout the nation. He additionally made a daring determination to go away the Karnataka workforce. A possible transfer to Kerala, the state of his dad and mom, didn’t materialise. Instead, he joined Vidarbha — a workforce with a proud Ranji Trophy historical past.

Also Read: Karun Nair returns to Tests after 7 years: A timeline of his comeback journey

This was really make or break for the batter. It was the primary actual probability that cricket had gifted him in years.

The renaissance with Vidarbha

Karun seized the chance with Vidarbha and shortly turned their mainstay with the bat. He scored 690 runs in 10 video games — a transparent signal that the hearth nonetheless burned shiny. Everyone started to take discover once more.

But there was nonetheless the lingering query — was this a one-off, or might he maintain this kind?

Karun adopted it up with a good higher marketing campaign, scoring 863 runs in 9 matches at a median of 54. That included 4 a whole bunch and two fifties. One of those centuries came in the final, in opposition to none aside from Kerala, serving to Vidarbha elevate the title.

And should you thought his resurgence was restricted to red-ball cricket, assume once more. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Karun smashed 779 runs in eight innings, together with 5 centuries. This made him a darkish horse for the Champions Trophy squad — a call-up he narrowly missed. But the selectors had been watching.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged Karun’s home exploits and confirmed he was of their plans.

Amid all this, a county stint in 2024 additional bolstered Karun’s credentials. He scored 487 runs in seven video games at a median of 48.70, together with a commanding double century (202*).

The IPL comeback

An IPL return wasn’t far off both. Karun joined DC for IPL 2025 and was initially anticipated to be extra of a squad participant. But throughout a high-stakes conflict in opposition to Mumbai Indians, he was thrust into the highlight. How did he reply?

By taking over the perfect — Jasprit Bumrah. Karun attacked the MI spearhead fearlessly, to the purpose the place even Bumrah, often the calmest beneath strain, misplaced his cool and had a go at him.

Karun responded with a blistering 89 off 40 balls, leaving everybody in awe of his transformation. At 33, he appeared reborn.

‘Cricket will give me one other probability’

Even throughout his years within the wilderness, Karun by no means confirmed frustration — at the least not outwardly. His coach, B. Shivanand, advised TOI that Karun believed cricket would provide him one other alternative, and quietly saved working.

“He all the time remained calm. Never spoke about something. ‘Sir, cricket will give me one other probability for certain’ — that is all he used to say at any time when I checked out him. Seeing him so silent, I by no means requested him about his snub from the Test workforce. This man is a god-gifted participant. There are many, and he’s one among them. May God bless him all the time. God is there, and He has given him a second life. I’m assured he’ll do higher this time as properly,” mentioned Shivanand.

So, what to anticipate on this second lifetime of Karun Nair?

According to Shivanand, a extra aggressive Karun is now able to take the sector — and tackle the world.

“He all the time mentioned, ‘I’ve to attain runs in home cricket and the IPL,’ and he was assured he could be rewarded for his arduous work. The wait was too lengthy, and I’m certain, someplace deep inside, Karun should be crying silently. But this time, you will see a unique Karun.”

“He’s not outwardly aggressive, however should you actually need to see his aggression, simply watch him now — with the bat. I need him to reply all of the questions with a century this time, and he’ll. Watch out for him. That’s all I need to say. He is hungry — very hungry,” Shivanand mentioned.

We usually draw parallels between life and sport. But it’s uncommon to get a second probability in both after hitting all-time low. For Karun Nair, it took time. He needed to plead for an additional alternative.

Well, cricket listened — and Karun ran with it. Now, after 3000 days, he’s again in India colors.

And for that, this time, the reward belongs to the sport itself. Thank you, cricket, for letting Karun Nair make his comeback.