India unveiled their Test squad for the upcoming two-match home series against West Indies, with Shubman Gill leading the team. Most players from the previous series retained their spots.
The Karnataka batter had a fairy-tale return to the Indian team after 8 years, thanks to his consistent play in domestic cricket. He made his case even stronger by scoring 200 runs against the England Lions in the first unofficial Test. This made him a strong candidate for a spot in the playing XI.
Ajit Agarkar Cites Inconsistency as Reason Behind Karun Nair's Omission
Nair featured in four Tests during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, where he was shuffled in the middle order batting at No. 3 and No. 5. However, his form was below expectations. He scored only 205 runs in 8 innings, with just one half-century in the series.. On batting-friendly tracks in England, these numbers were disappointing compared to the performances of his fellow batters.
One of the recurring issues in Nair’s game has been his failure to convert good starts into big scores, something Ajit Agarkar also pointed out. Explaining the selection decision, the former India pacer said:
"Frankly, we expected a little bit more. He’s played four Tests, but we’ve spoken about just one innings. It is the way it is. We feel we need a little bit more at this point. We wish we could give everyone 15 or 20 Tests, but it doesn’t work that way."
Karun Nair Breaks Silence on Omission
Reacting to his exclusion, Karun Nair expressed disappointment and admitted he was expecting to be picked:
“Yes, I did expect the selection. I don’t know what to say. No words. I don’t have many comments to make. It is very difficult for me to answer,” Nair told The Times of India.
He further justified his statement by highlighting his performance in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where he stood out when others struggled:
"The only thing is, in the last Test match, I scored a fifty when no one else managed in the first innings. So yeah, I thought I contributed to the team, especially in the last game that we won. But yeah, it is what it is. Those things don't matter," he added.
Also Read: IND vs WI: BCCI announces 15-member squad for West Indies Test series
