**Karun Nair Slams Ranji Trophy Half-Century After Test Snub**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 15, 2025, 07:26 PM*
The opening day of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season witnessed a stellar performance from Karnataka against Saurashtra at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. A crucial partnership between Devdutt Padikkal and Karun Nair helped Karnataka finish strongly on Day 1, ending on 295/5.
Padikkal scored a fluent 96, while Nair contributed a valuable 73. Having switched back to Karnataka after helping Vidarbha lift the Ranji Trophy last season, Nair played a pivotal role alongside Padikkal in stabilizing the innings.
### Partnership Brings Stability to Karnataka’s Innings
Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal and S. Nikin Jose fell early to Saurashtra’s bowling attack, spearheaded by skipper Jaydev Unadkat. However, Padikkal and Nair combined for a vital third-wicket partnership of 146 runs, which steadied the innings. Both batsmen showed patience and rotated the strike efficiently to keep the scoreboard ticking. The partnership was finally broken by Dharmendra Jadeja, who trapped Nair leg before wicket.
### Nair Scores 38th Fifty in First-Class Cricket
Karun Nair’s innings of 73 came off 126 balls and included nine boundaries. Playing his 121st first-class (FC) match, Nair has amassed 8,748 runs at an impressive average of around 49. This innings marked his 38th fifty in FC cricket, complementing his 24 centuries.
According to ESPNcricinfo stats, Nair has scored 5,174 runs in 71 Ranji Trophy matches (118 innings) at an average of 47.90, with 19 half-centuries and 17 centuries. This recent knock underlines his continued consistency in the premier domestic competition.
### Test Snub Despite Return After Seven Years
Karun Nair had made a comeback to the Indian Test team during the England tour after a long gap of nearly seven years, featuring in four matches. However, he managed only one half-century, which came in the final Test at The Oval. While he displayed solid technique and got starts, Nair struggled to convert them into big scores that might have cemented his place.
His performances included scores of 0 and 20 in the first Test at Headingley, 31 and 26 in Birmingham, and 40 and 14 in the Lord’s Test. He was dropped for the fourth Test in Manchester but returned for the series finale, scoring 57 and 17. Across these four Tests and eight innings, Nair totaled 205 runs at an average of 25.62.
### First-Class Runs Include 579 in Test Cricket
Overall, Karun Nair’s 8,748 first-class runs include 579 runs from 10 Test matches, showing his experience at the highest level, even if recent results have been mixed.
As the Ranji season unfolds, Nair’s form with Karnataka will be closely watched, especially given his determination to bounce back after the recent international disappointment.
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