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Karun Nair has so far racked up 752 runs in seven innings at a surreal average of 752 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.
Karun Nair is averaging a surreal 752 in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. (PTI Photo)
Harbhajan Singh thrown his weight behind in-form batter Karun Nair who has been in stunning form in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Vidarbha captain has scripted a slew of domestic records.
He has so far racked up 752 runs in seven innings at a surreal average of 752 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. He has struck five centuries and has scored his runs at a strike rate of 120.07.
Amid talks about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s woeful form, Harbhajan has slammed the Indian selectors for ignoring Nair, who according to him, has done enough to prove his quality.
With the Champions Trophy knocking at the door, the BCCI has yet to confirm the squad for the ICC event. As per reports, the selectors have reportedly kept their eyes on Nair who has played two ODIs and six Tests since his international debut in 2016.
While a final decision on India’s squad for the marquee event is yet to be made, Harbhajan has voiced his support for Nair, pointing out the batter’s sublime form.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the legendary spinner criticised the selection process, claiming that players performing in the IPL have a better opportunity to make it to the Indian team than domestic stars.
“It’s unfair. Many are selected based on just two games; some are just selected based on the IPL. So, why are the rules different for him (Karun Nair)? People say Rohit and Virat are out of form, and you’re sending them to Ranji. But those who are playing Ranji and scoring runs… why are you ignoring them? When will these guys play? They are scoring runs here,” Harbhajan said.
In 2016 when England toured India to play five Tests, Nair made his India debut and became the second Indian to score a triple century in the last match of the series in Chennai. He last time donned the whites for India during a home series against Australia in 2017.
“I never understood how he was dropped after a triple century. It pains me that no one talks about players like him. He went to England with the team but didn’t get a game. For the fifth Test, they flew a player from India, I think it was Hanuma Vihari, and he played the Test instead of Nair. Give me the reason for this. Does it make sense?” asked Harbhajan.
Nair scored an unbeaten 88 in the semifinal match of Vijay Hazare Trophy to guide Vidarbha to a 69-run win over Maharashtra. They will meet Karnataka in the final on Saturday.
