Karun Nair

A technically solid middle-order batter with the ability to build long innings in red-ball cricket, Karun Nair played six Tests for India in 2016-17, but by 2022 the Test triple-centurion, state captain and two-time Ranji trophy winner couldn't find a place in the Karnataka squad across formats. At the time, the prospect of a comeback, let alone a Test comeback, looked bleak. But Nair made it possible, through the sheer weight of his runs and consistency across formats for his new team, Vidarbha.

In June 2025, he completed that circle, making his way into the Indian squad for the Test series against England. The comeback, though, was far from a fairy tale. He made a duck in his first innings, and 20 in the second. Two more Tests and four innings later, Nair was left out of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Nair burst onto the scene in 2013-14, on the back of prolific age-group seasons for Karnataka and saw success early. In his maiden season, he hit three back-to-back centuries - including in the quarter-final and semi-finals, during Karnataka's run to the Ranji title that he sealed with a six. The next year he helped Karnataka lift their second straight Ranji Trophy, scoring 328 in the final.

An India debut followed, in an unremarkable ODI series against Zimbabwe, in 2016. He made a real impact in his debut Test series though, against England, scoring an unbeaten 303 in Chennai, but three middling Tests later he was out of the national side for the next eight years.

In 2023 he moved to Vidharbha, and in 2024-25 his 863 runs at 53.93 helped them win their third Ranji Trophy title. Prior to that, he hit five hundreds in eight innings - in six of those he was unbeaten - at an average of 389.50 at the Vijay Hazare Trophy. During that campaign, he broke James Franklin's List A record of most runs (542) without being dismissed.

- After being a regular for five seasons, Karun Nair's IPL appearances have been sporadic in the last six years.

- Nair began his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, before moving to Rajasthan Royals (RR) for two seasons, Delhi Capitals (DC) for two more, and Punjab Kings (PBKS) for three seasons. He didn't find a team in IPL 2023 and 2024, but returned to DC in IPL 2025 on the back of strong domestic performances.

- In his first IPL game in nearly three years, Nair smashed 89 off just 40 balls, including taking Jasprit Bumrah for 26 runs in nine balls, which included three fours and two sixes.

- While he otherwise had a lukewarm season, Nair was retained by DC for his base price of INR 50 lakh for IPL 2026.