Karun Nair: A letter to cricket and a lifetime of comebacks

Times of Oman

18-06-2025

As India gears up to face England in a high-stakes Test series starting June 20, one name quietly re-emerges in the squad list, Karun Nair. Almost eight years after scoring a historic triple century against this very opponent, Nair finds himself back in the Indian Test setup. The timing couldn't be more poetic and more powerful.
In December 2022, a quiet tweet sent ripples across the cricketing world:
'Dear cricket, give me one more chance.'
— Karun Nair
It wasn't bravado or blame, just raw, human vulnerability. A heartfelt plea from a man who had once touched the sky but was now watching the game pass him by.
Karun Nair's story isn't about overnight success. It's about resilience, faith, and learning how to fall and then get back up.
Born premature in Jodhpur, doctors advised his parents to strengthen his fragile lungs through sport. Cricket became his medicine, his identity. As the family settled in Bengaluru, young Karun was often the quiet kid at nets, technically sound, intensely focused, rarely in the limelight. But he was learning. Quietly. Patiently.
Years later, he would become only the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple century in Test cricket. His 303 not out against England in 2016 was a breathtaking mix of calmness and flair. India had found its next batting star. Or so it seemed.
What followed defied logic. A few average games, and he was gone. Not just from the Indian team, but eventually from his state side Karnataka, the very team he had helped lift to multiple domestic titles.
In his own words:
'Maybe I thought the opportunities would keep coming. But when they didn't, it hit me hard.'
That hit took time to recover from. But Karun chose not to sulk. Instead, he re-evaluated everything, his mindset, his preparation, even his environment. The now-famous 'Dear cricket…' tweet wasn't a cry for help. It was a turning point.
He shifted to Vidarbha, a bold move that most wouldn't dare. And then, quietly again, he let his bat do the talking. In the 2024–25 domestic season, Karun racked up nine centuries across formats, four in the Ranji Trophy, five in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, leading Vidarbha to a dream Ranji title.
His innings weren't just big. They were clutch. Gritty. Mature. 'He never talked about proving anyone wrong,' a Vidarbha coach shared. 'He just wanted to fall in love with batting again.'
The IPL came calling again. And finally, after nearly 3,000 days away, Karun Nair is back in the Indian Test squad, a little older, a lot wiser.
This story isn't about a triple century anymore. It's about everything after that. The silence, the struggle, the soul-searching. And the decision to start again.
For every young dreamer watching from the sidelines, wondering if one setback ends the story, remember Karun. He wrote to cricket when it seemed done with him. And cricket, eventually, wrote back.
Because sometimes, the game tests how badly you want it and those who wait with love in their hearts usually get that one more chance.