KL Rahul sends heartfelt message to Karun Nair after comeback in ENG vs IND 2025 Tests [Watch]

Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul lauded his former Karnataka teammate Karun Nair for his comeback to the India squad in Test cricket after eight years. The 33-year-old called Nair’s journey inspirational while backing him to deliver in England during the five-match Test series, owing to his experience of playing County Cricket in the UK.

The duo grew up together playing age-group cricket and recently represented the same IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals, in the 2025 season.

In a video posted by BCCI, KL Rahul said:

“I’ve known him for a very long time and the months that he spent here in the UK playing cricket and how hard and how lonely it was and for him to be able to do all of that and come back into the Indian team.”

“I think it’s special for him, for his family, and for friends like us who’ve seen his journey. So, like I said very inspiring as well and hopefully his experience and his learnings from playing county cricket here will hold him in good stead when he plays the Test matches here,” he added.

Karun Nair amassed 487 runs in 11 innings during his county stint with Northampton in the 2024 edition of the County Championship Division Two. In the first unofficial Test, he recently smashed 204 for India A against England Lions.

It’s noteworthy that Nair had a breakthrough domestic season last year, scoring nine centuries across formats. In the Ranji Trophy, the 33-year-old amassed 863 runs in 9 matches (16 innings) at an average of 53.93 with the help of four tons and two half-centuries. Nair was equally brilliant in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 779 runs in eight innings, averaging 389.50 with the help of five centuries.

In FC cricket, Karun Nair has 8470 runs in 186 innings at an average of 49.82, including 24 tons and 36 half-centuries.

“Feels really special” – Karun Nair reacts to his comeback to Test cricket

Karun Nair further expressed his gratitude following his comeback to Test cricket after a long gap. The right-hander is keen to express the surreal feeling of playing for Team India again for the first time since 2017. In the same video posted by BCCI, Nair said:

“Feels really special. Very grateful and very fortunate to be able to get this opportunity again and really looking forward and excited to grab this opportunity with both hands.”

“Not sure actually! I think I’ll have to experience that feeling myself and, you know, just go out there and feel it for myself. And I’m sure there’ll be a lot of feelings, ones that I can’t express right now and It’ll be a special feeling,” he added.

Karun Nair became the second Indian batter to hit a triple century in Tests after Virender Sehwag when he smashed an unbeaten 303 against England in Chennai in December 2016. The middle-order batter scored 374 runs in seven innings during his previous stint with Team India from November 2016 to March 2017.