Karun Nair reignited his international aspirations with a stunning double century on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test against England Lions in Canterbury on Saturday. The 32-year-old batter crafted a patient yet authoritative 204 off 281 deliveries, marking a high point in what he himself once hoped would be a final opportunity to revive his cricketing career.
Having resumed Day 2 on an unbeaten 186, Nair carried on with composure, fending off England Lions’ pace barrage and showing immense restraint outside off-stump. It wasn’t until the 101st over that he breached the double-century mark — dispatching an errant delivery from Eddie Jack to the fence to spark applause around the ground. Visibly emotional, Nair kissed his helmet, soaking at the moment that could potentially reframe his career.
Back in December 2022, Nair publicly appealed to “dear cricket” for a second chance. Since then, he has seized every opportunity — especially on this England A tour — to stake a claim for a spot in India’s five-match Test series against England starting June 20.
Other Key Performances:
- Dhruv Jurel added momentum early in the day with an aggressive start, hitting a boundary right away but fell agonisingly short of a hundred, dismissed for 94 off 120 by Ajeet Dale.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy, despite showing early promise, couldn’t convert his start and departed for a modest score.
- Shardul Thakur, true to his style, played a brief yet explosive cameo scoring 18 off just 13 balls, before Zaman Akhter had Karun Nair caught by captain James Rew to end the marathon knock.
Nair’s effort helped India A gain a significant upper hand, setting the tone in the opening fixture of the series.
What’s Next?
With the senior side set to face England in a much-anticipated Test series, Karun Nair’s double ton has undoubtedly put him back in contention for a red-ball recall. For a player who once scored a triple century in a Test, this could mark the beginning of a full-circle redemption.