Homecoming For Karun Nair, Jitesh Sharma To Leave Vidarbha For Baroda: Report
Karun Nair is all set to return to Karnataka after eight years, leaving Vidarbha, as the domestic transfer season begins.
Star India batter Karun Nair, who is all set to make a return to the Test fold after eight years, is on the verge of leaving Vidarbha to move back to Karnataka, as the domestic transfer season begins with just over two months to go for the 2025-26 season to start, according to a report in Cricbuzz.
Not just Nair, but Vidarbha is also set to lose the services of IPL 2025 winner Jitesh Sharma, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's star wicketkeeper-batter, as he too is contemplating a move to Baroda.
Vidarbha were the champions in the Ranji Trophy, runners-up in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and quarterfinalists in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the 2024-25 season.
Vidarbha's domestic success last year was built on strong batting contributions from Nair and Jitesh, with the former playing a crucial role.
Nair scored 863 runs in the Ranji Trophy, the fourth-highest in the event and topped the charts in the Vijay Hazare one-day tournament with 779 runs.
Nair had left Karnataka ahead of the 2023-24 season, but according to the report, he will return to the state for personal and family reasons. KSCA sources confirmed to Cricbuzz that Nair's return is a strong possibility. The star Indian batter led Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare last year.
Sources within BCA have confirmed to Cricbuzz that the transfer of Jitesh from Vidarbha to Baroda should be completed within a day or two.
Jitesh led Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and played under Nair in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but couldn't make much of an impact.
Jitesh enjoyed a successful Indian Premier League season with RCB and delivered some match-winning innings, including a 10-ball 24 in the final.
Baroda Cricket Association officials have said that Jitesh will play in both red-ball and white-ball formats for the state side.
Last year, Karnataka won the Vijay Hazare defeating Nair's Vidarbha, but couldn't make the knockouts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali. In the Ranji Trophy, Karnataka couldn't reach the knockouts.
Nair's inclusion in the red-ball team might just provide Karnataka with the much-needed push in the Ranji Trophy.
First Published:
June 19, 2025, 23:18 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Turning tragedies into ten-fer: Years of toil, tragedy, practice behind Akash Deep's record-breaking Birmingham outing
Birmingham [UK], July 7 (ANI): Indian pacer Akash Deep mesmerised one and all with a ten-wicket haul in a critic-silencing, era-defining win over England at Edgbaston by 336 runs, their first-ever Test win at the venue. During the Test match, Akash set a massive record, delivering India's best spell ever in England. The pacer etched his name in the record books by registering the best bowling figures in a match for India in England, surpassing the long-standing record held by Chetan Sharma. Deep's match figures of 10/187 edged past Sharma's 10/188. The Bengal speedster was in fiery rhythm throughout the Test, dismantling England's batting with a lethal combination of pace and accuracy. After picking up 4/88 in the first innings to lay the foundation, Akash Deep returned in the second innings to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finishing with 6/99. Besides the young skipper Shubman Gill, Akash will no doubt be the toast of the nation when the sun shines the next morning. But behind this match-winning performance is a long history of tragedies and injuries that could have deterred anyone from their path. Born in 1996 in Bihar, Akash Deep left his home state due to a lack of opportunities, seeking a more promising cricketing scene in Kolkata, where he shifted his base to Durgapur. However, just when it seemed his career would blossom, tragedy struck as he lost both his father and elder brother within a span of six months back in 2015, leaving him with two sisters to look after. This tragedy deeply affected Akash Deep, who stayed away from the game for three years, as per ESPNCricinfo. When he came back, a move to Kolkata helped him bring his career back on track, and he started with the United Club in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB)'s Second Division League. While playing at the Club level, he met pacer Mohammed Shami, who had been making waves with his quality pace and seam movement for more than five years back then. The duo worked together to improve Akash's fitness and increase his pace from the mid-130s to something more substantial. He was able to bowl longer spells at a much better pace. After fine performances for Bengal's U23 side in 2019, he debuted for the state across all formats in the senior side, starting with T20 in March 2019, then List A cricket and finally first-class cricket in December. His second first-class game saw him rattle Gujarat with a six-wicket haul, and he had a successful season of Ranji Trophy cricket in 2019-20, picking up 35 scalps and starring in Bengal's run to the finals. After landing an Indian Premier League (IPL) deal with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the 2022 season, Akash continued to perform consistently at the domestic level. For RCB, though, he took seven wickets in eight games during his three-season stay with them. The year 2023 proved to be a game-changer as a 10-fer against Haryana in Ranji and five-for against Madhya Pradesh in the semifinal, which earned him the 'Player of the Match' award, raised his profile further. He took 41 wickets in the Ranji season, topping his team's charts. Subsequent outings in the Duleep Trophy, a tour to South Africa for an A tour and a successful A series against England Lions during which he took 11 wickets in two matches at an average of 18.72, best figures of 4/46, earned him an Indian cap against England at Ranchi during the fourth Test, delivering a scorching three-wicket spell to reduce England to 57/3 and played a hand in India's win. Subsequently, he enjoyed a solid home season with 10 wickets in five matches at an average of 25.80, with best figures of 3/63. The outing to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy fetched him five wickets in three innings, and he was unlucky, often beating the batter's edges but not getting the wicket. He ended the tour with a back injury and a disappointing average of 54.00. An unsuccessful return to IPL in Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) colours followed, taking just three scalps in six matches at an average of 76.33 and leaking runs at an economy of above 12. Now, in his first Test against England, he sucked the life out of England's top order and troubled the tail with the new ball. When the 303-run stand between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith threatened to take the match away from India, Akash Deep's late resistance inspired the game. Following the win, skipper Gill admitted Akash's wickets were the match's turning point. 'Yesterday (Akash getting Ben Duckett and Joe Root on day four), I think, getting through the top order is never easy. The spell of Akash Deep, how he got those two wickets, kind of gave the confidence to everyone that we can win this test match. And when he came in this morning with, I think, ball hitting the cracks, yes, ball seaming, oddball seeming, that is what really instilled the confidence in all of the players that, yes, we can do it,' he said. Akash also won an admirer in bowling coach Morne Morkel, a South African pace legend with over 540 international scalps, who called him an 'attacking bowler who asks questions' following the end of day four's play. 'Akash, he is an attacking bowler who asks questions, you know, bowling at the stumps a lot. And I think that is one of the golden rules here in England, you know, is asking questions in the stumps. So for these sorts of conditions in the UK, it suits his style. And, you know, coming back from injury and seeing him running in with a high pace, it is a nice sign for us,' he said.'That is a dream delivery (to dismiss Root). Top quality player, and you know, to dismiss him in that fashion, just shows the quality of Akaash and what he can do. He is also a guy, the more confidence you give him, you know, almost like there's a little bit more energy behind the ball,' he added. Following the match, Akash revealed his elder sister's cancer diagnosis as well, and said he played this match to deliver a performance that would put a smile on her face. 'The biggest thing is that I have not told anyone yet. My elder sister has been suffering from cancer for the last 2 months. She is stable now. She is fine. She will be the happiest. She has been going through this mentally for the last 2 months. She will be the happiest. I was playing this match for her. I have to make her happy for this match,' Akash said while talking to batter Cheteshwar Pujara, now on broadcasting duties. Will Akash continue this fine run in England? (ANI)
Pink Villa
6 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Was Rishabh Pant the highest-paid skipper of IPL for Rs 27 crore?
Rishabh Pant created history when, in 2024, he became the most expensive player to be ever auctioned and bought for a massive price at the Indian Premier League 2025. Here's a throwback to the historic moment. Back in November 2024, Rishabh Pant quite literally created history when he was acquired by the team Lucknow Super Giants at the IPL 2025 for a record-breaking price. Scenes at the mega auction event held in Saudi Arabia reached the next level when the auction for Pant began at Rs. 2 crores at the marquee set. The player was ultimately won by Team LSG only. Rishabh Pant's auction started a strong bidding war between LSG and DC. Well, the auction for Rishabh Pant in the IPL was not a smooth one, and it initially began with a strong war between teams Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants for acquiring him. After a few rounds, the bid scaled up to an enormous Rs 20.75 crores by LSG and was sold to the team. However, team DC issued the right-to-match card to buy back Rishabh Pant. But this time, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka raised the bid to an ultimatum of Rs 27 crores, and Delhi Capitals finally let go and did not contest this high amount any more. Know Rishabh Pant's salary in LSG after being the costliest cricketer While the massive sum of Rs. 27 crores grabbed attention, it must be known that Pant's salary consisted of a few more criteria and contracts that were agreed upon by him and the Lucknow Super Giants. Well, Rishabh Pant has been contracted with the team for a period of three years until the next mega auction takes place for the players of the IPL. Thus, the amount he has been picked for, Pant will receive during these three years after tax deductions. So out of his Rs. 27 crores, the cricketer will be giving away Rs. 8.1 crore as tax to the Indian government from his total contract. The remaining Rs. 18.9 crore will be received by Rishabh Pant in a total of three years, which comes to about Rs. 6.3 crore in a single year. Rishabh Pant's salary in the IPL in case of injuries during a match Interestingly, as per the contract drawn up between Rishabh and Lucknow Super Giants after the mega auction, the star cricketer is liable to receive the full salary even if he gets injured in-between the season and is not able to play any matches further. However, if the cricketer does not get a chance to play in even one match throughout the season, then the team's franchise holds the right to replace him with another player. Rishabh Pant's hilarious reaction to being the most expensive cricketer in IPL history Recently Rishabh graced The Great Indian Kapil Show, where the host and comedian Kapil Sharma reminded him of his massive feat. He asked the cricketer' 'You were sold for ₹27 crore during the IPL 2025 auction. If a player in your team who was bought for ₹2-3 crores scores more runs than you, do you tell him to take some crores from me and score fewer runs than me?'. In response, Rishabh counter-questioned Kapil what the latter would do if some other artist on his show had a better comic timing than him. To this Kapil added that he edits out the parts, leaving Pant in a peal of laughter.
News18
7 hours ago
- News18
Two Emerging Leg-Spinners In Virat Kohli's Family! Rajkumar Sharma Makes Big Reveal
Last Updated: Virat Kohli's nephew Aryaveer, a leg-spinner, was sold to South Delhi Superstarz in the Delhi Premier League auction for Rs 1 lakh. Ace India batter Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has revealed that although the Kohli family boasts of probably the greatest batter of this generation, the next gen of the family has dedicatedly taken to leg-spin. On Sunday, July 6, Kohli 's nephew, his brother Vikas' son Aryaveer, was sold to the South Delhi Superstarz in the auction of the second season of the Delhi Premier League. Aryaveer, who was in the players' pool for the first time in Delhi's premier T20 league, was picked up for Rs 1 lakh by South Delhi. 'I am glad. Aryaveer is a promising, sincere and hardworking kid. The Delhi Premier League is a good platform for him to go ahead in his career," Rajkumar told News18 CricketNext in an exclusive chat at the auction. Asked if Aryaveer has ever felt the pressure of carrying the Kohli surname, Rajkumar said, 'No, the family has never pressurised him for anything. He is a simple kid and has never tried taking advantage of his uncle's name." One would imagine that, given Virat has made his name worldwide as a great batter, his nephew would follow in his footsteps. But Aryaveer is a legspinner, and so is Ayush, son of Virat's sister Bhawna, as Rajkumar reveals. Both Aryaveer and Ayush train at the West Delhi Cricket Academy, where Virat trained under Rajkumar years ago. 'Aryaveer was always a good bowler. Not just him, but Ayush is a legspinner too," Rajkumar said with a grin. Earlier in the day, South Delhi signed Digvesh Rathi for a whopping Rs 38 lakh, just one mark less than Simarjeet Singh, who was picked by the Central Delhi Kings for Rs 39 lakh. South Delhi also picked 29-year-old allrounder Kunwar Bidhuri, although he hasn't played professional cricket for the past two years, besides the Delhi Premier League. They also picked wicketkeeper Tejasvi Dahiya, who played in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi. South Delhi will be led by Ayush Badoni, who took them to the finals last year, only to fall three runs short.
