Karun Nair Opens Up on 2018 Snub: "It Felt Like I Was Pushed to the Ground by People I Looked Up To"

This Friday in Leeds, Karun Nair might finally make his return to India’s Test team after eight long years. For the 33-year-old batter, it’s not just about cricket it’s about coming full circle after facing one of the lowest points in his career.

Back in 2018, during India’s tour of England, Karun was with the team for the full five-match Test series. But he didn’t get to play a single game. Just before the final Test, he hoped he would finally get a chance. But instead, the team brought in Hanuma Vihari who wasn’t even in the original squad and gave him a debut. That moment broke Karun from within.

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Karun Nair’s Long Road Back: From Pain in 2018 to a Fresh Start in Leeds

“It felt like someone had pushed me into the ground. I didn’t know what to do,” he said in a chat with Mail Sport. The disappointment hurt deeply. Over time, his form dropped, and by 2022, he wasn’t even picked for Karnataka in any format.

A comeback story with Karun Nair 🔝

P.S. - A special message from KL Rahul 👌#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @karun126 | @klrahul pic.twitter.com/PeYCsNtnxv

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 12, 2025

Karun remembers that tough day clearly. “When I found out I wasn’t playing, I had no idea where to go or who to talk to. I just went out for a walk and ended up on Oxford Street. I started shopping like crazy. I bought things I never even cared about before, like a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes. I wasn’t someone who cared about expensive stuff it was never about money for me. I only cared about playing cricket for India.”

“I thought maybe buying things would make me feel better. I walked up and down the street and came back with bags full. But deep down, I knew the tour was over for me. Even though one game was left, I just had to get through it and go home. Every day after that was really hard. I wasn’t picked again.”

Now, seven years later, Karun is back in England this time with hope and confidence. He has worked hard, scored runs in domestic matches and county cricket, and earned his way back into the squad.

His fight and never-give-up attitude have even impressed current Team India coach Gautam Gambhir. “It’s not just the runs you’ve scored,” Gambhir said in a video on BCCI TV, “but the fact that you never gave up. That attitude is inspiring for everyone.” Karun Nair’s journey is not just about making a comeback it’s about falling, getting up, and never stopping the fight.