The recent announcement of India’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 has sparked debate, particularly surrounding the exclusion of Karun Nair. Despite being in sensational form during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, Nair’s name was missing from the squad. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has now shared his insights into why the talented batter did not make the cut, even after his stellar performance.
Karun Nair’s stunning performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
Nair has been nothing short of exceptional during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he displayed remarkable consistency with the bat. Representing Vidarbha, Nair amassed a staggering 779 runs in just eight matches, including five centuries. His prolific run-scoring earned him the top spot in the tournament’s run charts, and despite Vidarbha’s loss to Karnataka led by Mayank Agarwal in the final, he was named the Player of the Series. His performance raised eyebrows and sparked conversations about his potential inclusion in India’s Champions Trophy squad.
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Sunil Gavaskar explains the reason behind Karun Nair’s exclusion
Despite Nair’s undeniable performance, his name was notably absent from the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. Gavaskar, a cricketing legend, provided his insight into the selection decision. He explained that Nair’s exclusion stemmed from considerations of team balance and player roles. Gavaskar highlighted those two players in the squad already had well-established roles, and their strong performances in recent tournaments made it challenging to accommodate Nair in the team.
“Where should they fit him? You could have taken the spot of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. KL will perform the role of second wicketkeeper-batter for this team, and his performance during the 2023 World Cup was good. I don’t think the Indian cricket team has played much ODI cricket after that. Shreyas Iyer has also performed well in the format. That is why Karun Nair has not been picked,” the former Indian captain told SportsTak (via Inside sports)
