Karun Nair’s magnificent batting display in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-2025 has been rewarded by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. The right-handed batter has been selected for the India A team for the upcoming tour of England. The Men’s selection panel on Friday named an 18-member squad with Abhimanyu Easwaran as captain. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan was happy with Nair’s place in the team, as he highlighted an old tweet from the 33-year-old batter.

In 2022, a heartbroken Karun Nair tweeted, “Dear cricket, give me one more chance.” He was dropped from the Karnataka state team. Two years later, he proved his worth again as he scored runs in every match for Vidarbha.

Nair amassed 863 runs in nine Ranji Trophy matches and finished the 2024-25 season as the second-highest run-scorer, helping Vidarbha win the title. He registered 779 runs at an average of 389.50 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. This performance was enough to confirm his place in the India A squad, and he will have to score runs in the two unofficial Tests against England Lions. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bidding adieu to Test cricket, there is a chance that Karun will play for the national team.

Irfan Pathan feels that Karun Nair’s is a clear sign that he will play for the Indian team as well. “Karun Nair getting selected for India A is clear indication that Dear cricket will him give him another chance to play for team India again,” Pathan wrote on X.

Karun Nair knows about the conditions in England. He played for Northamptonshire in the County Championship in 2023 and 2024, posting 736 runs in 10 games at an average of 56.61. He hit two hundreds and four fifties, including an unbeaten 202 against Glamorgan.

Speaking of the upcoming tour, the first game against England Lions will start on May 30 in Canterbury, while the second and final contest will take place on June 6 in Northampton. The India A side will also compete with the senior India side in a four-day match from June 13. This contest will be played seven days before the series opens the Test between England and India in Leeds.

Shubman Gill is expected to replace Rohit Sharma as Test captain. The announcement will be made next week when the selectors will announce the squad for the upcoming five red-ball matches.