Karun Nair Leaves Duleep Trophy Final For Personal Reasons, Turns Up For KSCA

Karun Nair wasn't included in the playing XI. Photo: PTI

Karun Nair surprised the South Zone team management by leaving the Duleep Trophy final midway and playing for KSCA XI in Karnataka days after the start of the fixture (Duleep Trophy). Nair, a capped player, didn't get a chance in the Duleep Trophy. He wasn't part of the playing XI for the semi-final of the tournament and was kept on the bench in the final as well. South Zone coach Vikram Verma talked about Nair after Monday's play and said that he left the team due to personal reasons.

"No, he [Nair] went [home] with the personal reasons. So he left for his home, he mailed and took the permission. Actually, we went with a good combination because every team has two left-arm spinners. So we thought a left-hand batter in the middle order would give a chance to dominate them. So again, we thought what is best for the team," Verma said.

"And [in the] first match [against North Zone], we gave chance to a youngster [Kodimela] Himateja. Now since [Devdutt] Padikkal has come back again, so again the team combination was that. So [it] was difficult to miss him [Nair] out, but that's the combination we have," he added.

Karun Nair made his India comeback in 2025. Photo: PTI

Nair made his return to the Test team in 2025 and was part of the England tour. Though he was dropped from the playing XI during the series and has yet to play another Test match.

Nair has scored 579 runs in 10 Tests since his debut. He played two ODIs against Zimbabwe in 2016. Nair never played T20I cricket for India. Nair's international career is seemingly over. He will continue to play for Karnataka in domestic cricket. Nair left Karnataka few seasons back and moved to Vidarbha. He returned to Karnataka before the 2025-26 season.

Rishav Narang is an experienced writer with nine years of experience in sports journalism. He extensively writes on cricket and covers live matches, b...