Karun Nair

Karun Nair is a right handed opening batsman and an occasional off-break bowler. Born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Karun represents Karnataka in domestic cricket. He has played for Karnataka at all junior levels. He has also represented India's U-19 team touring Australia.

Karun was signed by the Bangalore team for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League in 2012 but could not play more than 2 games. He had an excellent 2013-14 Ranji season in which he scored three centuries in six matches including an innings of 151 not out in the semi-final. He was under perfect guidance of Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson and Brad Hodge as he was a part of the Rajasthan team in the 2014 season of Indian Premier League. In 2016 auction, Nair was bought by the Delhi franchise for a whopping Rs 4 crore, 40 times his base price.

After delivering on a consistent basis for Karnataka and India A, Karun Nair finally got a call for the national team in 2015 when he replaced an injured Murali Vijay on the Sri Lankan tour. However, he never got a chance to break into the playing XI. Finally, in 2016 he made his Test debut against England in Mohali and made it count by scoring a mammoth triple ton in only his third Test. He also became the fastest player in history to convert his maiden Test century into a triple hundred. Despite this record-breaking feat, his international career did not take off as expected, and he was dropped from the team in the following series.

In domestic cricket, Karun switched to Vidarbha and remained a consistent performer. The 2024-25 season was one of his best, where he scored 779 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, including five centuries, at a staggering average of 389.50. He carried this form into the Ranji Trophy, where he played a match-winning role for Vidarbha in the final, scoring 86 and 135 in both innings against Kerala, helping his team lift their third Ranji title.

Karun has also been a part of the Indian Premier League for several years, representing teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils, and Kings XI Punjab. In the 2025 Indian Premier League auction, he was bought by the Delhi Capitals for ₹50 lakh.

In domestic cricket, Karun eventually switched to Vidarbha, where he enjoyed a massive resurgence. The 2024-25 season was one of his most prolific, as he amassed 779 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at a staggering average of 389.50, including five centuries. He carried this momentum into the Ranji Trophy, scoring 863 runs for the season and playing a pivotal role in the final by scoring 86 and 135 against Kerala to help Vidarbha lift their third title. These performances earned him a brief international recall for India’s 2025 tour of England, where he managed 205 runs across four Tests before being dropped again ahead of the West Indies series.

Following his stint with Vidarbha, Karun returned to represent his home state of Karnataka for the 2025-26 season. He continued his heavy scoring, amassing 699 runs at an average of 58.25, highlighted by an unbeaten 174 against Goa and a massive 233 against Kerala. However, his most recent appearance in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy Final against Jammu and Kashmir in February 2026 was less successful, as he was dismissed on a duck.

In the IPL auction for the 2025 season, Karun was bought by the Delhi Capitals for ₹50 lakh and made an immediate impact, notably smashing 89 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians. Due to his stability and experience, he was retained by the Delhi franchise at the same price for the IPL 2026 season.

Rejoining his home state of Karnataka for the 2025–26 domestic cycle, Nair picked up right where he left off, scoring 699 runs at an average of 58.25. His red-ball mastery was on full display with a resilient 174* against Goa and a marathon 233 against Kerala, helping propel Karnataka into the Ranji Trophy knockouts in early 2026.

Maintaining pristine physical condition and sharp form through senior state camps in Bengaluru through the summer of 2026, Nair remains one of Karnataka’s most decorated and reliable senior batters as the state gears up for its 2026-27 first-class campaign.