Veteran India batter Karun Nair has revealed that a prominent Indian cricketer once advised him to retire and focus on the financial security offered by franchise T20 leagues. Despite the discouraging advice, Nair remained committed to the revival of his career. His persistence in domestic cricket has now paid off, earning him a place in India’s 18-man squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting 20 June at Headingley, Leeds.
“I still remember a prominent Indian cricketer calling me and saying you need to retire because the money in these leagues would make me secure,” Nair said in an interview with the Daily Mail. “It would have been easy to do, but I knew that regardless of the money, I would be kicking myself for giving up that easily,” the 33-year-old added, recalling the moment from two years ago.
“I was never going to give up on playing for India again. That was just over two years ago and look where we are now,” he insists. “It’s crazy but deep down, I knew I was good enough.”
Nair’s path back to the national side has been paved with prolific performances across formats. Last month, he began his tour of England with a double century for India A in an unofficial Test against the England Lions in Canterbury – a clear statement of intent and form.
Gautam Gambhir, India’s new head coach, has been vocal in his support of Nair’s comeback. Speaking to BCCI.tv, Gambhir said: “No matter how many runs you have scored – what matters most is that never-say-die attitude, that never-give-up mindset. That’s what has brought you back into the team. It’s something that inspires the whole world.”
Gambhir has also hinted that Nair will be given a fair run in the Test side during the England tour, citing his valuable experience in English conditions. Nair represented Northamptonshire in the 2023 and 2024 County Championship seasons, scoring 736 runs in 10 matches at an average of 52.57, including a memorable double hundred.
His domestic season back home was equally exceptional. Playing for Vidarbha in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Nair finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer, tallying 863 runs from 16 innings at an average of 53.93, with four centuries and two fifties.
Earlier in the season, he was instrumental in steering his team to the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Nair dominated the tournament’s batting charts, scoring 779 runs from just eight innings at an eye-popping average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04, including five centuries and a fifty.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25, he maintained his rich vein of form, leading his side’s scoring with 255 runs from six innings at an average of 42.50 and a blistering strike rate of 177.08.