‘Wish I Was The Chairman’: Ex-IND Cricketer Slams Ajit Agarkar And Co For Ignoring In-Form Karun Nair For CT 2025 – News18

Last Updated:January 21, 2025, 14:40 IST

Former cricketer Surinder Khanna was certainly not pleased to see Karun Nair being ignored from India’s CT 2025 squad despite a strong domestic performance.

Karun Nair scored 779 runs in nine matches of Vijay Hazare Trophy for Vidarbha. (Picture Credit: Screengrab)

Former India cricketer Surinder Khanna has slammed India selectors for ignoring Karun Nair during the 2025 Champions Trophy official squad announcement.

Ajit Agarkar and India skipper Rohit Sharma, in a press conference on August 18, announced the squad for the upcoming ICC event. Khanna shared his thoughts on the final team during an interview with ANI.

“I think Karun Nair is a bit unlucky. I wish I was the chairman of selectors,” he said. The ex-cricketer also highlighted Nair’s recent performances in First-Class cricket.

“He hit 300 in the Test match, and after that he disappeared. Now suddenly the moon has come out again, so that moon should shine for 2-3 years,” Khanna added.

Karun Nair was in stellar form during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. He was the domestic tournament’s top scorer with 779 runs in seven outings for Vidarbha. Nair accumulated those numbers at a mind-boggling average of 389.50 as he was unbeaten in six innings. His stupendous batting displays, however, didn’t prove enough for the 33-year-old to find a spot in the 15-member Champions Trophy squad.

Karun Nair has represented India in six Tests since making his debut with the national side in 2016. He scored 374 runs in seven innings at an average of 62.33. Nair produced his best Test score of 303 not out against England in his first year. He has also represented India in two ODIs, scoring 46 runs for the Men in Blue.

Khanna further suggested that Karun Nair’s exclusion could significantly hurt India’s fielding in the Champions Trophy. He claimed that the ODI format is extremely demanding as it needs active players to save crucial runs.

“How many 35-36-year-olds can you have in the team? It’s a one-day format, you require quick movers in the fielding,” Khanna said.

He also questioned Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s fitness and said, “I mean, if you make Rohit Sharma’s field on the boundary, then two runs will be easily taken. Virat Kohli also fields in slips and only does fields inside the circle.” He hoped that the veteran duo would return to form in the upcoming tournament.

As for the Champions Trophy, the ICC event will commence on February 19 and last till March 9. Pakistan and UAE will co-host the tournament after the introduction of a hybrid model. The Men in Blue will begin their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 before locking horns with their arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23.