India's legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar on January 17 lauded Vidarbha captain Karun Nair for his extraordinary run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. Tendulkar's post on X came on the eve of Vijay Hazare Trophy final and the squad announcement of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“Scoring 752 runs in 7 innings with 5 centuries is nothing short of extraordinary, @karun126. Performances like these don’t just happen, they come from immense focus and hard work. Keep going strong and make every opportunity count!” Tendulkar wrote on X.
Nair has been in splendid form with 752 runs from seve innings at an average of 752 as he has been only dismissed once. His strike rate is 125.96. The 33-year-old has scored five centuries as well. Vidarbha will play their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy final. They are scheduled to face Karnataka, Nair's former team in the final clash.
What Nair said ahead of the final
It has been more than eight years since Nair has played ODI cricket. He has played just two ODIs on the Zimbabwe tour of 2016. Despite his rich vein in form, Nair is unlikely to be named in the Champions Trophy 2025 as the middle order is already packed.
"The dream is always to play for the country. So, yes, the dream is still alive. That's the reason we play this game, to play for your country. So, the one and only goal was to play for the country. I think this is my third comeback (laughs). And I need to keep doing what I am doing at the moment. Keep scoring runs whenever I can in every single game that I play. That's the most that I can do. Everything else is not in my control," Karun was quoted as saying by PTI.
"But till it (selection) happens, it's just a dream. It's still not there yet. But again, like I said, I would like to focus on one innings at a time," he added.
Prasad wants Nair in England ODIs
Meanwhile, former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad has called for his inclusion in the three-ODI series at home against England.
"It’s great that more importance is being given to domestic cricket. Though 33, but with the kind of domestic one day season Karun Nair has had, it would be good to see him for the ODI’s against England. Would also help in motivating players to play and perform in domestic cricket," Prasad wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Nair has a chance to break an all-time Vijay Hazare record. If he scores 79 runs in the final, he will break the record for most runs in a single edition of Vijay Hazare Trophy.