Karun Nair makes interesting switch to represent new side in 2025-26 domestic season

In a huge domestic deal for the 2025-26 season, a huge move is going to be made by the current number three batter of the Indian Test side, Karun Nair. He had a fabulous season with Vidarbha for the last edition, where in the white-ball trophy, he finished as the leading run-getter of the tournament.

India's Nair smashed 779 runs in eight innings at an average of 389.50 and a strike rate of nearly 124.04, scoring five centuries and one half-century at the best score of unbeaten 163 runs. In the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, the right-handed batter clubbed 863 runs to be the fourth highest run-getter in 16 innings at an average of 53.93, thanks to four centuries and two fifties at the best score of 135 runs.

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But for the upcoming edition, Nair has made an interesting shift to represent a new side. He will return to his home domestic season, Karnataka, due to personal reasons. The veteran, who recently marked his return to the national side, has collected only 111 runs in four innings at an average of under 28 with the best score of 40.

Karun Nair returns to Karnataka for 2025-26 domestic season

Apart from Nair, Vasuki Koushik, the 32-year-old right-arm pacer from Karnataka, has made a move to Goa for the forthcoming season. He has secured a No Objection Certificate from the Karnataka Cricket Association and has become one of the two players professionally to get signed by the Goa Cricket Association (GCA).

‘We have signed Koushik. So far, that is the only confirmed transfer. We are exploring a few other options, but no names have been finalized yet.’ The GCA secretary, Sambha Desai, expressed on July 19 that the left-arm pacer, Arjun Tendulkar, of Mumbai, is the other professional player to be part of the Goa side. Their opening batter, Yashasvi Jaiswal, was about to make the move but later backed out.

Koushik featured in the seven Ranji Trophy, five Vijay Hazare games, and 10 T20s for Karnataka last year, to claim 23, eight, and 18 wickets respectively. Bengal has also added their premier pacer, Mohammed Shami, among the probable players for the upcoming edition of the tournament. The CAB secretary, Naresh Ojha, released the list of the players.