Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Vidarbha's Karun Nair continues to impress despite facing ignorance from national selectors

Vijay Hazare Trophy hero Karun Nair, whose calls were left unanswered by the national selectors despite a splendid 779-run season with the bat, has continued his good run of form for Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy as well. In the ongoing game against Hyderabad, the ace batter smashed a brilliant century in the second innings on Day 3 of the Round 7 encounter.

Batting first, Vidarbha could only put forward 190 runs in the first innings, after which Hyderabad, on the back of Tanmay Agrawal's terrific knock of 136, had gained a massive lead. In the second innings though, Vidarbha, who have already qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament, came all guns blazing, as opener Atharva Taide hit a solid 93-run knock before falling prey to Varun.

After losing a few more wickets in the middle, Nair came in to bat at No. 5, and went on to not only stabilize the innings, but take his team past the deficit to ensure a defendable target for their bowlers. His 105-run stay at the crease, which lasted for 193 deliveries, was decorated with 14 boundaries, and a six over the long-on region. Even as he got dismissed by Tanay Thyagarajan, he left the middle after pulling Vidarbha out of any spot of bother.

Notably, India had announced their Champions Trophy 2025 squad after Nair had already given rise to debates around his inclusion for the Men in Blue, however, he could not make the final cut. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had clarified that the committee did mull their heads over Nair's comeback, although it did not materialize in the end due to lack of place.

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Coming back to the match, Nair's dismissal did not put a stem on the flow of runs, as youngster Harsh Dubey contributed with an important half-century. Dubey's stay at the crease was cut short by Rakshann, who shattered through the batter's defence to affect the fall of the eighth wicket. Currently, Vidarbha have gained a lead of 211 runs, and will look to add as many runs before inviting Hyderabad to chase the target, and hopefully, contain them on the final day before moving ahead into the business end of the competition.