The Indian cricketer Karun Nair, once celebrated for his triple century in Test cricket, has now shared the deeply personal story of his difficult comeback journey, marked by professional setbacks and emotional lows.
After going unsold in the 2023 IPL auction and failing to secure a County contract in England, Karun Nair found himself playing village club cricket for Burbage & Easton Royal in East Wiltshire. The matches, held every Saturday, were a far cry from the elite level he was used to, and his teammates often questioned what someone of his caliber was doing in those modest settings.
The years following his exclusion from the Indian team in 2017 saw a steady decline in opportunities. He was even left out of the Karnataka squad, making the rejection feel deeper. Desperate to prove himself in England, where he was earlier dropped midway through the 2018 tour without playing, Karun Nair accepted whatever came his way, determined to keep going despite the emotional toll.
In an interview, Karun Nair admitted that mentally, it was one of the hardest periods of his life. Each morning brought a new wave of disbelief and frustration as he questioned how things had spiraled so far. The experience felt like dropping from Champions League football to a level below non-league, and the confusion was made worse by players constantly asking him why the f*ck he is playing here (in Burbage & Easton Royal in East Wiltshire) when he deserved to be playing County Cricket.
Karun Nair recalled a particularly painful moment from 2018 when he was replaced by Hanuma Vihari in the fourth Test against England. Devastated by the news, he wandered alone to Oxford Street, overwhelmed and searching for comfort. In an effort to lift his spirits, he indulged in a spree of expensive shopping, something entirely out of character for someone who never cared for luxury.
Among his purchases was a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes, not out of desire, but as a way to convince himself that he still had some control over his happiness. Karun Nair said that he returned with multiple bags but also a realization – money and material things could never replace the joy he once found in playing cricket for India.
Now, after eight long years of battling setbacks and silencing doubts, Karun Nair is finally back where he belongs to. He has earned a place in the Indian squad for the upcoming Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy in England and is expected to feature in the first Test at Headingley on June 20.
His story is one of resilience, showing that even after hitting emotional and professional rock bottom, the desire to fight back can still carve a path toward redemption.
