Aakash Chopra opens up on Karun Nair’s potential India return after prolific domestic season

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has shed light on in-form Karun Nair’s potential India return after a prolific domestic season. The Vidarbha captain is in sensational form in the domestic circuit and has scored a truckload of runs.

In the ongoing Ranji Trophy final against Kerala, Nair scored an impressive knock of 86 runs in the first innings. Subsequently, the right-hander scored another fine knock of 135 runs in the second innings to put his team in the driver’s seat.

Nair has scored 863 runs in nine matches of the Ranji Trophy at an average of 53.93, with the help of four centuries. 

On the other hand, Nair also amassed 779 runs in nine matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at an average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04, with the help of five hundreds.

“He has scored nine centuries in this season combining the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Ranji Trophy. Now he has scored a century in the Ranji Trophy final as well and Vidarbha are almost on the verge of victory. They have already got the first-innings lead. So they are in a very good position,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“It’s a strong case now. The England tour is coming. I remember he had gone on an England tour once and he wasn’t played. He was part of the team but someone came from outside and played, and he was left sitting outside. I think Virat Kohli was the captain at that time and Ravi bhai (Shastri) was the coach. After that, he was left out like a fly is removed from milk and nobody actually bothered afterwards,” Chopra added.

The renowned commentator reckons it would be injustice if Nair is not picked for the Indian team despite performing so consistently in domestic cricket.

“When someone scores nine centuries, you have to stand up and take notice. If you don’t see his name around the Indian team now, I would say it’s injustice. There is no point of domestic cricket if you don’t even consider him,” he said.

“The focus will once again be on batting on the England tour. We didn’t bat very well in the BGT. So if you are looking at changes, Karun Nair’s name should be in that thinking. He is not a spring chicken but he is also a guy who has scored a triple hundred in Test cricket. So the triple centurion should get his due,” Chopra observed.

Vidarbha is currently leading by 368 runs and they are all set to become Ranji Trophy champions.