Karun Nair’s Ranji Trophy Masterclass Sends Timely Reminder To Ajit Agarkar & Co

Star India batter Karun Nair has notched up yet another double hundred in the Ranji Trophy, forcing chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his team to take notice, with less than two weeks to go for the two-match

Test series against South Africa at home. Nair appeared in the England Test series but was dropped from the West Indies tie.

Nair’s brilliant innings served as a reminder to the Indian selectors, coming just weeks after he was dropped from the Test team. His knock, studded with 25 boundaries and two sixes, powered Karnataka past the 500-run mark at the KCA Cricket Ground in Thiruvananthapuram.

This is Nair’s third successive big innings in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, after a half-century against Saurashtra and an unbeaten 174 versus Goa. His rich domestic form stands in sharp contrast to the disappointment of being left out of India’s team for the home Test series against the Windies two months ago.

Nair is currently the highest run-scorer this season, with 488 runs in three matches at a stunning average of 162.66.

Nair’s omission followed a tough Test comeback during India’s tour of England, where he scored 205 runs in four games at an average of 25.62. His standout effort was a fighting 57 at The Oval in India’s narrow six-run victory over England. 

Agarkar later remarked that the side had ‘expected more from Karun Nair in England’. Nair was forthright about his disappointment after being left out of the team for the Windies series.

“Yes, I did expect the selection. I don’t know what to say. No words. It is very difficult for me to answer,” Nair admitted. He defended his 57 at The Oval as well, pointing out that it came in testing conditions when the rest of the batting lineup had struggled.

“It is quite disappointing, but I know that I deserve to be there after the last years in domestic cricket. Personally, my opinion is that I deserve a lot better,” Nair said. His message remained consistent: “All I can do is keep scoring runs, that is my job.”