NEW DELHI: Despite a spectacular run of form in domestic cricket, Indian batter Karun Nair on Saturday found himself out of India’s Champions Trophy squad.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, addressing the media in Mumbai, shed light on the decision.
“Averaging 750+ is simply insane,” Agarkar admitted, referencing Nair’s exceptional Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign.
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“Performances like his don’t happen often. However, with only 15 spots available, we can’t fit everyone.”
Agarkar emphasised the depth of competition within the Indian team, where securing a place is as challenging as excelling on the field.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja.
Nair’s recent form has been nothing short of phenomenal.
In the Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final against Maharashtra, Nair, 33, played a dazzling knock of 88 not out off 44 balls, smashing nine fours and five sixes at a remarkable strike rate of 200. His heroics propelled Vidarbha to a formidable 380 for 3.
Over seven tournament games, Nair has amassed an incredible 752 runs, notching up five centuries, including four successive tons.
Nair’s scores — 112*(108), 44*(52), 163*(107), 111*(103), 112(101), 122*(82), and 88*(44) — underline his consistency and ability to dominate bowlers.
Yet, his exclusion underlines the fierce competition for spots in India’s white-ball setup, dominated by established stars. With Shubman Gill named the vice-captain, Mohammed Shami will be looking to make a comeback since his ill-fated injury in the national colours during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
