Ignored for ICC Champions Trophy 2025, star batter sends notice to selectors with century in Ranji Trophy Final

New Delhi: Overlooked by the selectors for the 2025 Champions Trophy, Karun Nair made a strong statement with a century in the Ranji Trophy final. The right-hander played a solid knock of 86 in the first innings before being run out. Though he fell short of a hundred in the first innings, he made up for it in the second, registering the 23rd first-class century of his career.

Karun Nair has been in exceptional form this Ranji Trophy season, amassing 837 runs in nine matches. With another opportunity ahead, he has a strong chance of breaching the 900-run mark. Currently, he sits at the fourth spot on the list of highest run-scorers in the ongoing Ranji season.

Karun Nair had a sensational run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 779 runs in just eight innings at a staggering average of 389.50. His tally included five centuries and a half-century, showcasing his consistency and dominance. However, despite his brilliance, he was overlooked for India’s ODI squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy and wasn’t even named among the reserves.

Nair, who last represented India in 2017, is now focused on earning a spot in the Test team. With India set to tour England for a five-match Test series after IPL 2025, a century in the Ranji Trophy final could strengthen his case and draw the selectors’ attention.

Karun Nair’s Career
Karun Nair made his India debut in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2016 before earning his Test cap against England in November the same year. In just his third Test match, he achieved the extraordinary feat of scoring a triple century, becoming only the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to do so.

However, despite his historic innings, Nair was dropped from the playing XI soon after. When he returned, he struggled to make an impact, failing to cross the 30-run mark in his next four innings. He was later included in India’s squad for the 2018 England tour but did not get an opportunity to play.