Karun Nair opens up on one of his darkest experiences

Karun Nair has made an inspiring comeback to the Indian Test squad after a lengthy eight-year hiatus, marking a significant turnaround in his cricketing journey. The 33-year-old batter, who once etched his name into Indian cricket history with a stunning triple century against England in 2016, had gradually faded from the national scene. Reflecting on his struggles, Nair described the end of 2022 as the darkest phase of his career — a period marked by uncertainty, lack of opportunities, and questions about his future in the sport.

Karun Nair reveals about his darkest incident

Despite the setbacks, Nair never gave up on his dream. He returned to the grind of domestic cricket with renewed determination and focus, delivering a series of consistent and impactful performances for his state team. His resilience and hard work paid off as selectors took note of his form and temperament, ultimately handing him a much-awaited Test recall. The right-hander’s journey back into the Indian dressing room stands as a testament to perseverance and self-belief. As he gears up for the upcoming challenges in the longest format, Nair brings with him a wealth of experience, a hunger to prove himself once again, and the motivation to make the most of this rare second chance at the highest level.

Karun Nair has opened up about the emotional toll of his unexpected omission from the Indian Test team, which came shortly after his historic triple century against England in 2016. Despite becoming only the second Indian to score a Test triple ton, Nair found himself sidelined with little explanation, a moment he admits was deeply painful and confusing. He revealed that it’s a phase he has consciously avoided revisiting over the years, as the mental struggle of being dropped without clear justification left a lasting impact on him.

Now, nearly eight years later, Nair finds himself on the brink of a potential return to the Test arena. With India preparing for the much-anticipated five-match Test series against England, starting June 20, reports suggest that he is being considered for the playing XI in the opening match at Headingley in Leeds. His consistent domestic performances and renewed focus have caught the attention of the selectors, putting him in strong contention. For Nair, this isn't just another selection—it represents a chance at redemption, to rewrite the narrative of a career that once promised so much and was abruptly stalled. A place in the XI would mark a poignant and powerful comeback chapter in his Test journey.

“In terms of incidents, I would say, it was quite a dark place at the end of 2022. Very emotional phase for me. I think it was the toughest time for me. Even tougher than 2018, or whatever, whenever that was,” Karun Nair said to Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel.

“No. I don’t want to be where I was a couple of years ago, quite honestly. I think at the moment, at least I am very grateful. Like you said, I have gotten past that complaining stage. Very grateful to be in the situation that I am and I just treat every day as something that's given to me, and I am living my life and doing what I love. I am very grateful to everyone that has been part of my journey in the last 2-3 years at least. I have understood to value things. I have understood to value each moment and just treat every single day as a new day,” he added.

Karun Nair admitted that he was left puzzled and disheartened after being dropped from the Indian Test side. The right-handed batter had hoped to feature in the squad for the Sri Lanka series in 2017, especially after his historic triple century against England just months earlier. However, things didn’t go as he had anticipated, and Nair found it difficult to understand the reasons behind his exclusion. The abrupt turn in his career left him feeling uncertain and questioning his place in the team. Despite being confident about his performances, the lack of communication and clarity added to his confusion. Nair’s omission came as a shock to many, given the impact he had made in a short span. It became a tough period for the batter, who had to gather himself and continue grinding in domestic cricket, waiting patiently for another opportunity to wear the India Test jersey.

“Honestly, I couldn’t understand what was happening. Because after the 300 in Chennai, after the Australia series, I think the next series was in Sri Lanka in 2017. I wasn’t part of that squad either. And from then on, I couldn’t understand what was happening. Then I had to go back to domestic cricket,” Nair noted.