Looks like Karun Nair's batting exploits in Vijay Hazare Trophy will go in vain as he is unlikely to be picked in India's Champions Trophy 2025 squad. The BCCI's selection committee, headed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, will officially announce the Champions Trophy 2025 squad at a press conference in Mumbai on January 18. The selection meeting is scheduled to commence at 12 PM IST at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai upon which they will come up with India squad for both ODI series against England and Champions Trophy 2025.
Karun Nair unlikely to be picked in India's Champions Trophy
But Sports Tak has learnt that, Karun Nair won't be able to make a cut in India's squad despite his stellar form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-2025. Riding on five stunning centuries Karun Nair has amassed 752 runs at a staggering average of 752. Of late he guided Vidarbha to Vijay Hazare Trophy final where they will meet Karnataka for the title clash. But his batting exploits won't be enough for BCCI to consider him in India's squad.
Reason being, there is no weak link in India's ODI set-up as of now as per the selectors. However, India put on a disappointing show in the recent Test series, both against New Zealand and Australia. But to accommodate Karun Nair BCCI will need to find a weak link in India's ODI set-up which they are finding it difficult to find right now.
The selectors reportedly believe that recalling the 33-year-old won't be a wise call. With only two ODIs played in 2016 during a tour of Zimbabwe, Nair faces an uphill battle to find a spot in India's current ODI team. The competitive nature of India's middle-order batting lineup presents a significant obstacle for his potential return to the national side. This is the reason Karun Nair will not be included in India's squad for both ODI series against England and Champions Trophy.
Karun Nair is in form of his life in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Vidarbha skipper has mustered 752 runs in just seven innings at a mind boggling average of 752. This includes five centuries with scores of 112, 44, 163, 111, 112, 122, and 88, with only one dismissal. Not just this, Nair has also shattered Ruturaj Gaikwad's all-time record of 660 runs which the latter accumulated in in the 2022–23 season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. With this Nair has become captain with the most runs in a single edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The Vidarbha captain was acquired by the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2024 auction, has demonstrated exceptional form across various formats. In the 2024-25 Maharaja T20 Trophy, he amassed 560 runs in 12 matches at an impressive average of 56.00. This impressive tally includes one century and five half-centuries, with a highest score of 124. Nair's dominance extended to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 255 runs at an average of 42.50, including three half-centuries at a strike rate of 177.
But despite proving his batting might again and again, the star batter is finding it difficult to make it to India's squad yet again.