Former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna expressed his disappointment over Karun Nair's exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad, despite Nair's outstanding performance in first-class cricket. During a press conference on Saturday, Ajit Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 and the ODI series against England.

 

Khanna remarked, "I think Karun Nair is a bit unlucky. I wish I were the chairman of selectors. He scored a triple century in a Test match, but then he seemed to disappear. Now that he’s back in form, it’s crucial for him to maintain that momentum. However, with so many players aged 35-36, you need quick movers in one-day formats."

 

Nair was not only the top run-scorer for Vidarbha but also excelled in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, amassing an impressive 779 runs in seven matches with an astonishing average of 389.50, remaining unbeaten in six innings. Despite his remarkable domestic performance, the 33-year-old was left out of the final squad.

 

In his international career since debuting in 2016, Nair has played six Tests, scoring 374 runs at an average of 62.33, including a best score of 303*. He has also participated in two ODIs, accumulating 46 runs.

 

Khanna further raised concerns about the fitness levels of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, suggesting they need to focus on their mental fitness to regain their form. He criticized Rohit's fielding ability and noted that Kohli's efforts in the field have not translated into runs.