Karun Nair reflected on his performance during his comeback Test series against England, marking his return to the Test side after eight years. Despite
the high expectations, Nair struggled to make a significant impact on the big tour. He played four Tests but managed only one half-century, and despite getting decent starts previously, the Jodhpur-born failed to convert them into big scores.
Nair scored a total of 205 runs in four matches, averaging a modest 25.62. His inability to get big scores was felt heavily on the Indian team, where they could not get runs from the top order as solidarity was expected from Nair, who has been playing red-ball form for quite some time now. He admitted feeling nervous while batting on the challenging Oval pitch. In the first innings of the last Test, he recorded his first and only half-century of the tour but expressed disappointment at not capitalizing further on that start.
"I was disappointed at not being able to convert the start at The Oval into a century. But looking back, it was quite important to grind my way on that first day with the team in a tricky position. I'd done well there previously; I'd gotten a 150 for Northants against Surrey (at the same ground). The nerves were there, but I was feeling good. I was hoping to convert, which I couldn't," Nair told ESPNcricinfo.
The 33-year-old shifted his base from Karnataka to Vidarbha and enjoyed a prolific 2024-25 domestic season. He scored 863 runs in the Ranji Trophy at an impressive average of 53.93, including four centuries and two half-centuries, featuring a decisive knock in the final. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he amassed 779 runs in just eight innings at an extraordinary average of 389.50, with five centuries to his name, following which he was given a place in the national squad for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.
Reflecting on the England series, Nair admitted it did not unfold as he had hoped, with its share of highs and lows, but emphasised that the most important thing now is to move forward.
"It was an up-and-down series in that sense, and I did reflect a lot. But it's also important to let go of what has happened and look forward to what I need to do in the next few months. It's about keeping my focus levels up and making sure I go on and make big scores, irrespective of the level I'm playing at," Nair said.
Nair won't be taking part in the Duleep Trophy 2025, as his name is nowhere to be seen in the South Zone squad. The squad will be led by youngster Tilak Varma, while Devdutt Padikkal and Vijaykumar Vyshak are the only couple of names in the squad representing Karnataka.
