Karun Nair’s Stunning Comeback: Record-Breaking Knock Sets IPL Auction Abuzz

Karun Nair’s eight-year wait for an India recall ended at Headingley last week, yet the story behind the 33-year-old’s return to the Test arena may be even more compelling than the scorecard that shows a first-innings duck. Second Indian triple-centurion finally back in whites The Karnataka-born right-hander became only the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to notch a Test triple ton when he blazed an unbeaten 303 against England in Chennai in 2016. Three matches later he disappeared from the XI, benched through the 2018 England tour and eventually dropped without explanation. On 21 June 2025—3,006 days since his last Test—Nair walked out at No. 6 for Shubman Gill’s new-look side in Leeds, completing one of the longest comebacks in modern Indian cricket. Told to retire and “chase the money” Nair revealed this month that a senior India player once advised him to quit first-class cricket and focus on franchise T20 leagues for financial security. “It would have been easy, but I knew I’d kick myself for giving up,” he told Daily Mail, adding that the conversation took place just two years ago when he was outside every national and IPL squad. Domestic reinvention across two states and a county Instead of retiring, Nair shifted from Karnataka to Vidarbha, hammered 863 Ranji Trophy runs in 2024 (including a final-winning century), topped the Vijay Hazare Trophy charts with 779 runs at an astonishing average of 389.50, and honed his technique during two low-pay county stints with Northamptonshire. At Vijay Madyalkar’s academy on Bengaluru’s outskirts, he reportedly faced 600 balls every alternate day, adding strokes such as a reverse-sweep six to broaden his range. Selectors couldn’t ignore the numbers When India’s middle order thinned after Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement and injuries to KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, Nair’s mountain of domestic runs and proven temperament in English conditions pushed him ahead of younger contenders. Head coach Rahul Dravid—who messaged him after a 150 for Northants at The Oval—reportedly backed the move, noting the value of a player who has already converted a maiden Test hundred into a triple. Leeds Test: rust visible, opportunity alive Nair’s second-ball duck against Chris Woakes grabbed headlines, but team management confirmed he will keep his place for the second Test at Edgbaston on 2 July. Batting consultant VVS Laxman stressed that “one innings won’t define a comeback; the hard yards he’s done do.” With Gill signalling a desire for aggressive middle-order intent, Nair’s natural stroke-play and recent white-ball success could still tilt the series. Why Nair’s return matters • Experience in English conditions: 736 county runs across two seasons • Unique triple-century pedigree—India have never dropped a triple-centurion twice • Right-hand–left-hand balance alongside Rishabh Pant at No. 5 • Inspiration for domestic stalwarts eyeing late bloom Test careers What’s next Edgbaston offers quicker bounce and shorter square boundaries—conditions Nair exploited during his 78 on county debut. If he converts a start there, India gain depth, and the narrative shifts from fairytale recall to sustained redemption. SEO takeaway Fans searching for “Karun Nair comeback,” “India vs England Test series 2025,” “triple centurion returns,” and “Karun Nair told to retire” will find a story of perseverance, technical reinvention and unfinished business—one that could yet deliver another landmark innings on English soil.