Karun Nair made a memorable return to the Indian Premier League, scoring 89 runs off just 40 balls for the Delhi Capitals against the Mumbai Indians at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. His innings included 12 fours and 5 sixes. DC had a rough start, losing Jake Fraser-McGurk on the very first ball, but Nair came in and almost turned the game around for his team. In the end, they lost by 12 runs in a nail-biter, but Nair’s effort didn’t go unnoticed.
This was Nair’s first IPL game in nearly three years and his first fifty in almost seven years. About three years ago, he tweeted, Dear cricket, give me one more chance, highlighting his desire to return to the game. Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu praised Nair for staying hopeful about playing for India again, even though that dream hasn’t yet come true.
Rayudu shared how tough it can be for players who have to step back into domestic cricket after being overlooked for national selection. It takes a lot of persistence to get through tough times in India. Many struggle, but few manage to bounce back, and Karun Nair is one of those few. Once players get lost in the domestic circuit, it can be really hard to make a comeback. Mentally, it’s a challenge, and people often write you off, he said.
He added that while cricket moves on quickly, Nair has kept his head down, working hard and believing in himself, especially regarding Test cricket. I truly hope he gets a chance in England during the Test series, Rayudu said.
