Ambati Rayudu, who used to play cricket for India and is now a commentator, is really rooting for Karun Nair to get back into the Indian Test squad for the upcoming tour of England. Karun had an impressive performance, scoring 89 runs off just 40 balls in his first match back in the IPL after being away for three years. This was also his first half-century in the T20 league since 2018. During this standout inning, he took on the renowned bowler Jasprit Bumrah and hit him for 18 runs in one over, reaching his half-century in just 22 balls.
Rayudu didn’t hold back on his admiration for Karun’s journey, especially since he’s turned things around at 33 years old. He talked about how tough it can be when things go south in Indian cricket. Many players face a lot of challenges, and it’s rare to see someone rise above them like Karun has. Rayudu explained that when players get kind of lost in the domestic scene in India, making a comeback is super tough. Mentally, the struggle can be overwhelming because there’s always pressure from the outside, and sadly, many people are quick to write off a player.
Despite the fast-paced world of cricket, Rayudu pointed out that Karun hasn’t been forgotten; he has kept learning, working hard, and holding onto the belief that he could make a comeback, especially in Test cricket. Rayudu said he really hopes to see Karun on that flight to England for the Test series.
Karun has been on fire lately, performing exceptionally well in the domestic leagues. He played a critical role in helping Vidarbha win the Ranji Trophy in the 2024-25 season, ending up as the fourth-highest run scorer. He racked up 863 runs across 16 innings, with an impressive average of 53.93, including four centuries and two fifties.
Earlier this season, he also shined in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he was the top scorer of the tournament, accumulating 779 runs from just eight innings at an astonishing average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04. He notched up five centuries and one fifty in that tournament too. Karun didn’t stop there; he was also the leading scorer for his team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 255 runs in six innings at an average of 42.50 and a strike rate of 177.08.
Given all his recent runs and great performances, Karun has made it clear that he wants to return to the Indian side. The last time he played Test cricket was in 2017 against Australia in Dharamsala, and he hasn’t been picked since that tour in England back in 2018. There’s buzz that he might make the India A squad, which is set to face the England Lions in two four-day matches in late May and June, preparing for the five-Test series against England. If he performs well in those matches, it could really pave the way for him to make a comeback to the national team.
