Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has come up with his feelings about in-form Karun Nair’s chance for the Indian national cricket team in the upcoming ODIs, including the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The 33-year-old Indian cricketer Karun Nair is in dream form with the bat in the domestic One-Day tournament, the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. With the help of five centuries and one half-century, including four successive centuries, Nair is leading the most runs chart of the tournament with 752 in seven innings with an average of 752.00 and a strike rate of 125.96. His batting has helped Vidarbha reach the Final of the competition. 

In 2016, Nair made his ODI debut during the Zimbabwe tour and played only two ODIs, scoring seven and 39 runs. He also made his Test debut in the same year at Mohali, when England toured India. In his third Test innings, which was also his third Test, Nair recorded a triple century at Chennai as he scored 303 not out against England. After Virender Sehwag’s two triple centuries, Nair became the second Indian batter to record a triple hundred in Test cricket. However, he couldn’t reach 30 runs in the other six Test innings as the right-handed batter played his last Test against Australia at Dharamsala in March 2017. Soon, he was out of the limelight but returned this year with his unstoppable batting form in the 50-over format. 

Dinesh Karthik praised Nair for his outstanding form with the bat. Karthik also hailed another forgotten Indian Test opener Mayank Agarwal, who is the second-leading run-scorer in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 with 619 runs in nine innings (average 103.16), hitting four centuries and one half-century. Just like Vidarbha skipper Nair, the 33-year-old Karnataka captain Agarwal has also led his team to the tournament Final.

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It’s coming at a stage when the Indian ODI setup is almost ready to go: Dinesh Karthik

However, Karthik feels that it is too late for Nair and Agarwal, while the Indian team is set for their restart in the ODI format. 

Karthik told Cricbuzz, “Karun Nair, it’s been unreal to see the form that you’ve been in. Even Mayank Agarwal has been in some really good form. But the beauty is, it’s coming at a stage when the Indian ODI setup is almost ready to go. There can’t be too many changes.”.

“Yes, it’s very tempting to bring a Karun Nair into the setup, and I think he has earned the right to be part of the talks.”

I don’t think he’ll make it to the Champions Trophy squad: Dinesh Karthik about Karun Nair

Although Karthik doesn’t feel Nair’s presence in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19, he still hopes for the best result. 

The former Indian wicketkeeper-batter added, “But I don’t think he’ll make it to the Champions Trophy squad. But if he keeps going like this, why not? A form batter like that who plays fast and spin well, he’s a gun player, and I’m very happy for him.”

Age can play a major factor for Nair as the Indian team will grow to focus on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, while he will be close to 36 years old.