KL Rahul Welcomes Karun Nair Back With Heartfelt Message

India’s senior batter KL Rahul has warmly welcomed back his former Karnataka teammate Karun Nair into the Indian Test set-up. Nair, who last featured in a Test in 2017, has been included in India’s squad for the five-match series against England, starting on June 20.

Nair has been in stunning form in red-ball cricket since 2022. In this period, the right-handed batter has amassed 2839 runs in 34 first-class matches at an average of 53.57, studded with 10 centuries and as many fifties. 

"I've known him for a very long time and the months that he spent here in the UK playing cricket and how hard and how lonely it was and for him to be able to do all of that and come back into the Indian team," KL Rahul said in a video posted by BCCI.

"I think it's special for him, for his family, and for friends like us who've seen his journey. So, like I said very inspiring as well and hopefully his experience and his learnings from playing county cricket here will hold him in good stead when he plays the Test matches here.”

Nair has 374 runs in six Tests, of which 303 came in one innings against England. In the same innings, Rahul slammed 199 and added 161 runs alongside Nair. Even in the two games against England Lions before the main series, Nair managed scores of 204, 40 and 15.

"Feels really special. Very grateful and very fortunate to be able to get this opportunity again and really looking forward and excited to grab this opportunity with both hands," said Nair.

"Not sure actually! I think I'll have to experience that feeling myself and, you know, just go out there and feel it for myself. And I'm sure there'll be a lot of feelings, ones that I can't express right now and It'll be a special feeling.”