Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu backed the Delhi Capitals (DC) sensational batter Karun Nair to make his comeback into India’s test squad for the upcoming five-match test series in England starting from June 20.
The Karnataka-born cricketer, who was once a rising star for Team India, vanished from the spotlight despite being only the second Indian batter after Virender Sehwag to score a triple century in a test innings.
However, the right-handed batter suddenly became the talk of the town by scoring a quickfire fifty against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Despite his international career being cut very short, Karun never gave up and continued to work hard.
Karun Nair’s Comeback in IPL 2025: DC vs MI
On April 13 (Sunday), Karun Nair scored a fabulous 89-run knock out of 40 balls (including 12 fours and 5 sixes) at a strike rate of 222.50 against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
The 34-year-old reached his 11th IPL fifty in just 22 balls, which was indeed his first half-century in the league after seven years.
Especially, Nair exhibited a great level of confidence by taking on one of the world’s talented pacers, Jasprit Bumrah, as he scored 26 runs off just 9 deliveries by smashing 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Rayudu Heaps Praises on Karun Nair
Although Delhi Capitals lost the match by 12 runs, the entire cricket world showered praises on Nair’s blistering knock, and Ambati Rayudu was one of them who was delighted with his remarkable comeback:
“Yes! It is all about sheer determination because when you go through difficult challenges in India, it wouldn’t be easy to withstand. Several people have gone through such tough phases, and only a few of them have passed out with flying colors. And Karun is one of them.
Once you lose your position in the domestic system in India, it is hard to make a stronger comeback. This is because you’re pulled downward by so many situations around you, and a lot of them will be ready to overlook you and be ready to write you off, the 39-year-old conveyed while speaking on Star Sports.
The cricketer-turned-commentator encouraged the batter’s determination and efforts to once again wear the Indian jersey. Also, Rayudu wants the Indian management to recognize Karun’s red-hot form and include him in Team India’s test squad for the upcoming England tour:
“See! Cricket is one such dynamic sport that moves on rapidly. Even though cricket has moved on, Karun hasn’t moved still. Moreover, he never gave up learning or working hard. However, he believed strongly that he could make a comeback, particularly in the test format. I would sincerely convey my hope and appreciation that he travels to England and boards that flight for the forthcoming test series,” Rayudu added.
A Brief Summary of Karun Nair’s Test Cricket Career
Since Karun Nair’s test debut against England on 26th November 2016, he has played 6 matches and scored 374 runs in 7 innings. His last appearance in the longest format was against Australia on 25th March 2017, where he scored 5 runs from 16 balls in Dharamshala.
Here is the breakdown of Nair’s 374 runs over 4 months of his test cricket career (from November 2016 to March 2017):
| Match and Date | Opponent Team | Runs | Balls Faced | 4s and 6s | Strike Rate |
| 3rd Test (26th-29th November 2016) | England | 4 | 4 | 1 four | 100.00 |
| 4th Test (08th-12th December 2016) | 13 | 18 | 2 fours | 72.22 | |
| 05th Test (16th-20th December 2016) | *303 | 381 | 32 Fours and 4 Sixes | 79.52 | |
| 2nd Test (March 04th-07th 2017) | Australia | 26 | 39 | 3 Fours | 66.66 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 3rd Test (16th-20th March) | 23 | 47 | 2 Fours | 48.93 | |
| 4th Test (25th-28th March) | 5 | 16 | 1 Four | 31.25 | |
| TOTAL | 374 | 506 | 41 Fours and 4 Sixes | 73.91 (Overall Strike Rate) |
From the above tabulated information, it is understood that Nair scored 303 runs in a single inning against England, while his remaining 74 runs were accumulated across 6 innings.
Should Karun Nair Get an Opportunity for the Upcoming England Tour 2025?
Nair deserves a promising comeback as he grabbed the attention of the entire cricket world with his stunning knock against the Mumbai Indians.
Also, Nair enjoyed a stellar run in the domestic season, having played a crucial role in Vidarbha’s triumphant campaign in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, where he ranked as the fourth-highest run scorer of the season (863 runs across 16 innings).
Moreover, Ambati Rayudu strongly believes that he could be one such key player who can adapt to tougher conditions in England. As the Indian batting line-up recently struggled on Australian soil with a lack of contributions from key batters like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant, Karun’s inclusion in the forthcoming red-ball series seems to be a promising option
