Why Karun Nair was not selected in India team despite brilliant form in domestic cricket

Despite having a phenomenal run in the prestigious domestic tournament Vijay Hazare Trophy, veteran batsman Karun Nair failed to make it in the Indian team for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Playing for Vidarbha, the prolific batsman finished the domestic 50-over tournament as the highest run-getter with 779 runs with an impressive average of 389.50. However, the selectors continued to snub him in the Indian team for the mega event.

In response, a BCCI official said that Nair was not picked as the selectors thought that it would send a wrong signal to other veteran batters like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. 

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Both Pujara and Rahane, who have been out-of-favour of the selectors in the Test side, have been absent from the scheme of things in the longest format of the game. The report claims that some selectors thought that picking Nair would be an encouragement to get Rahane and Pujara back to the Test team.

“The fact that the selection process for something as high-profile as the Champions Trophy was delayed because of intense discussions about Nair’s inclusion only further reveals the underlying tension. Some selectors, it seems, think bringing back Nair into the ODIs will be an encouragement for getting Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane into the Test team,” said the BCCI official.