"That was frustrating for me......" Karun Nair speaks about his comeback experience in England tour

Karun Nair finally returned to international cricket after more than eight years during the recently concluded five-match Test series in England (Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025), but it wasn't a dream run for him despite some of his impressive pictures. 

In 2016, Karun Nair scored a Test triple-century (303*), which was his only 30+ score in a Test innings, only 40+ score in international cricket before his return to international cricket in the recently concluded England tour. He got the deserved chances in the recently concluded series after his hard work in recent years, where he impressed with his consistent performances with the bat. 

Nair returned to Test cricket during the first Test of the England tour at Leeds, where he scored a duck in the first innings and scored 20 runs during India's second innings. In the next Test at Edgbaston, Nair scored 31 and 26 runs. In the Lord's Test, he scored 40 and 14. After he was dropped from the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, he returned to the Test series finale at The Oval, where he scored 57 and 17. He mostly impressed with his confident starts, but he hardly managed to capitalise on his starts. 

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It was not like I was trying to prove anything: Karun Nair

In a recent interview, Nair pointed out his failures despite getting starts in the England tour. He told PTI, “It was not like I was trying to prove anything. Sometimes you get starts in most of the games, and then you find a way to get out. That was the case for me in England."

Nair feels very frustrated to fail to make a big count on his good starts in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, where the right-handed batter scored 205 runs in eight innings with an average of 25.62.

Nair added, “I was batting well throughout the series and getting into the 30s and 40s, but I just wasn’t able to push on. That was frustrating for me more than anyone else. I’ve been reflecting on why that was happening, why I kept getting out after getting set." 

By taking important suggestions, Nair is working hard to make improvements and not make the same mistakes in the upcoming matches.

Nair claimed, "The one lesson I’ve taken is to make sure I convert the starts I get. I’ve spoken to a lot of people about it and taken their suggestions. I’ll be working on it soon, so that the next time I get a start, I can convert it."

I am not thinking too far forward: Karun Nair

In October, India will host a Test series against the West Indies. Then, South Africa will travel to India for the Test and white-ball series in November. There are also two India A series against Australia A and South Africa A. Talking about his future goal, Nair isn't thinking much ahead; rather than he is much busier focusing on the present. 

Nair said, “I am not thinking too far forward. I am taking it day by day, working on my game and on the learnings from the last series. As time goes on, we will see what happens. For me, it’s about improving every single day — both in terms of skills and fitness.”