An average of 25.62 and just one half-century on tour. Karun Nair's Test comeback did not turn out to be the way he had hoped to be. Breaking the door with a mountain of runs in domestic cricket, experience of County cricket and then a double century against England Lions, Nair earned a place in the playing XI. However, he was 14th on the list of top run-scorers in the series. Days after the thrilling six-run win at The Oval to level the series 2-2, Nair rues not getting to a century once he was set.
"I was disappointed at not being able to convert the start at The Oval into a century," Nair told ESPNCricinfo. "But looking back, it was quite important to grind my way on that first day with the team in a tricky position. I'd done well there previously; I'd gotten a 150 for Northants against Surrey. The nerves were there, but I was feeling good. I was hoping to convert, which I couldn't.
"It was an up-and-down series in that sense, and I did reflect a lot. But it's also important to let go of what has happened and look forward to what I need to do in the next few months. It's about keeping my focus levels up and making sure I go on and make big scores, irrespective of the level I'm playing at."
Nair’s underwhelming run in Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025
The 33-year-old Nair was dismissed for a duck on his comeback and scored 20 runs in the second innings. But, it was not at his usual position. He batted at 6 in the Leeds Test. At Edgbaston, Birmingham, he got starts (31 and 26) but could not carry on. India counted on Nair at Lord's. He scored 40 in the first. But, in the run chase, he fell late into Day 4's play for 14, leading to India losing momentum. His best came at The Oval. The 57-run knock in the first innings was crucial to get India past 200. He ended his tour with a 17-run knock. Overall, he scored 205 runs from eight innings.